Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty to making an indecent image of a child.
The ex-official appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged over allegations relating to a video recovered by officers in February.
The 43-year-old, who wore a navy suit, sat at the back of the court room and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and to enter his plea during the 18-minute long hearing.
The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos.
The allegation relates to a video recovered by officers from Nottinghamshire Police in February before Coote was charged on Aug. 12, the force said.
The former referee, of Woodhill Road in Collingham, near Newark, Notting