Imagine you go to a football match, get annoyed by the referee and call him a “f**king teletubby” out of frustration. People would probably laugh and then everyone would just move on from the situation. For some reason though, British film and TV legend Stephen Graham is now facing an FA probe after doing just that to a non-league referee.

Line of Duty star Graham, 51, is accused of calling the official a ‘f**king Teletubby’ and ‘fat useless t**t’, which are insults usually reserved for a newly-signed multi-million pound forward, but which he levelled at referee David Kennedy during last Saturday’s game at Barrow Town in Leicestershire.

In fact Graham got so animated that the referee eventually stopped the game, and refused to continue until the actor stepped back from the touchline.

Witnesses told The Sun that Graham snapped for ‘no reason’, and called Kennedy a ‘f**king Tellytubby’, accused him of being on a ‘power trip’, and said he was a ‘useless t**t’.

He allegedly said: ‘Look at the state of you, you fat t**t.’ Which sounds like pretty standard banter for a football match, if you ask me.

A source told the publication that his behaviour was ‘absolutely disgusting’ and everyone, including the referee was ‘horrified’.

Another wet wipe witness told the publication: ‘To speak to a referee like that is absolutely appalling. He’s a household name and is a real local celebrity around here. Clearly he wasn’t worried about being recognised.  Nothing had even happened to make him flip out – it was like someone flicked a switch. It’s shameless and he shouldn’t be able to get away with it.’

The Leicestershire and Rutland County FA are now investigating, and apparently Graham asked to apologise to the referee immediately after the game but was advised to go home.

Graham reportedly rang the referee later two days later and explained: ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what it is about football, it turns me into a Neanderthal. I need to do some soul searching and work out why I behaved the way I did.’

In a statement sent to Metro, Leicestershire and Rutland County FA said: ‘The Leicestershire & Rutland County FA are aware of an alleged incident from a fixture between Barrow Town and Heather St Johns, played on 14 December 2024. We have been in contact with the Match Official to offer our support and we are carrying out a full investigation into the matter. Offences against Match Officials are treated with the utmost seriousness – we strongly condemn any abusive or unacceptable behaviour towards our Match Officials.’

Unbelievable. Have these people ever been to a football match before? That kind of verbal abuse happens at every single football game without fail. Not saying what he did was ‘OK’ or anything, but to investigate or punish the guy because he’s a celebrity and is expected to set a good example for others? Seems a bit unfair really. Game’s gone!

For the 17-year-old girl with autism who was banned for asking a transgender opponent: ‘are you a man?’, click HERE.