POLICE have raided the home of former Premiership referee Jeff Winter over comments made on his website, it has been reported today.

According to the Scottish Sun, Strathclyde Police seized computer equipment from his home in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, following complaints about comments posted on his blog in December last year after Celtic beat Rangers.

The post described Pope Benedict XVI as a "dress-wearing Nazi" and made reference to altar boys being abused.

Mr Winter, who is overseas, told the newspaper he was unaware of the operation.

He said: “I’m on the other side of the world on holiday so I don’t know anything about it.”

The raid was said to have been carried out by the Glasgow-based Football Co-ordination Unit. 

In January, Mr Winter said he was taking legal advice over the comments and said he had not seen the site because it had been suspended by internet authorities before he got the chance. 

Strathclyde Police said: “The search is part of an inquiry in connection with alleged offensive comments on a website.”