State of the Game - Ref rage

State of the Game looks at abuse suffered by officials

Last updated: 24th April 2008  

State of the Game - Ref rage

Ref rage: watch State of the Game

STATE OF THE GAME
Mondays, Sky Sports News
STUDIO DEBATE
Monday nights, Sky Sports News

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As our State of the Game series continues we look at poor behaviour towards match officials and its affect on grassroots football.

While the professional game has seen the Respect campaign launched this season, further down the level the problem is getting out of hand.

Around 7,000 referees have quit the game because of abuse and the Football Association admit they are now facing a crisis when it comes to finding officials, with fewer than ever taking it up.

Tales of referees being abused and assaulted by players are commonplace and Sky Sports News chief news reporter Dan Roan has been out to investigate just how big the problem is.

You can see Dan Roan's latest report by clicking on the video in the top right of your screen or by watching Sky Sports News throughout Monday

And on Monday night Keith Hill will be putting the officials' case forward with ex-Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn giving the players' perspective.

We want you to join in the State of the Game debate...

Share your views on the abuse that referees receive using the feedback form below and we'll publish the best of them.

If you are a referee who has suffered physical or verbal abuse, or have quit the game because you no longer feel safe, let us know. Or are you a player who has gone too far and now seen the error of your ways? All you have to do is fill in the feedback form below...

Comments (72)

Peter Skardon says...

This is an interesting debate, and one that I have considered for a while. My 13 year old has just given up playing for his local team after 4 years of really enjoying the game. The main reason beig that as he is one of the youngest in his year, likewise he is one of the smallest.In the early years this was not overly apparant, however, latterly some boys - practically a year older than him and build wise sometimes a foot taller and significantly bigger build have arrived and it is they that get picked. At one time my lad would have received "man of the match" regularly, latterly he was lucky to get picked at all! How many other talented children have been forced out of these type of team games because they are no longer first choice but are expected to stand on the touchline? A further issue is that skills are discouraged - winning at all cost is the thing - the children are screamed at for making mistakes and there are rarely heard any words of encouragement or anything that could be deemed as motivational. I had hoped that my son would continue to play football indefentitely - great for friends etc... however, he has been put off for life and I have no doubt he is not alone.

Posted 16:39 30th April 2008

Alan Morrison says...

The main problem with the game that results in refs at lower levels getting abused is the top level refs, Premiership & SPL, etc letting the players away with it too much. players see this and decide that if the top players can do it, so should they. If the top refs clamped down, the message would filter down the levels, resulting in all refs reaping the benefits of players showing them more respect. I myself referee in a top amateur league in scotland and regularly have several cautioned for dissent.

Posted 15:43 24th April 2008

Lee Durham says...

I agree that young referees should be picked by the FA a lot like talented youngsters being picked by top teams and developed over time! The FA should stop messing around with silly little tweaks like the offside rule which helps no body and causes more debate, two Refs will only cause more controversy and frustration as one will see and decision one way and one will not give exactly the same decision due to interpritation, I don't think anything will be done because I believe the FA like running football like WWE and enjoy the controversy it brings week in week out! Instead of trying to make things better they mess about with it, I think the FA imagine that people won't watch if the game is pure and we only watch football to have something to moan about! Send young adults wanting to be referees to an FA run institute along with the best young footballers, let them work together, instead of subjecting young refs to grass roots allow them to ref arranged games at U-12 - U21 level within the England setup and then they should be ready for the Premiership! Referees are being put off by knowing they have to ref lower league games and get abused, if they are given a better education of the game rather than subjected to lower leagues which they will learn nothing from this will benefit everyone! Players will be more respectful if the Refs are brought through a system over a number of years, the players only moan at Refs because they feel they don't know enough about the game, if the Ref turns around and gives a decision based on 10 years of training and experience and working with other players then they are more likely to be in less of a hurry to play down the decision! Plus after a certain period a lot of the more respected players will have been working with the Refs at the FA Institute and will be more of a professional attitute between the two parties!

Posted 08:16 24th April 2008

Steve Julians says...

Quite simple at the top level: direct referees (and make it known to the clubs) that if they are crowded by 4 or 5 (or however many) players whinging in his face, then they produce 4 or 5 (or however many) yellow cards there and then. Suddenly, that team has half its' team on a caution for the rest of the game. If, say, 3 of them are already on a yellow, then that's it - they're off. They'll be a few weeks of games ending 8 or 9 a side or even abandonments - but the long term message will be worth it.

Posted 08:10 24th April 2008

Mark Gill says...

If the FA are so keen on cutting back on the abuse that refereeing officials recieve on and off the pitch how come it is taking them so long to deal with the Ferguson and Queiroz charge following there verbal attack on the referee Martin Hacket and the PGMO General Manager Keith Hackett after there defeat against Portsmouth in the FA Cup. Everyone else seems to be dealt with as a matter of urgency, is this another case of Ferguson time?

Posted 00:18 24th April 2008

Peter Maher (Manchester United fan) says...

Football has developed and evolved immensely in the last thirty years and even more so in the Premiership era. The one aspect of the game that has stood still is the quality of the refereeing. Like it or not, football at the professional level is now a multi million pound business. It is just about the only business on Earth that is officiated over by a bunch of amateurs who struggle to keep up with play and who have every decision scrutinised by a multitude of media. It is not fair on the clubs, the players and even the referees to have such an situation. Either a referees club is developed, where young people can be trained to a professional sportsman level and who can be schooled in the laws of the game and to use technology, where appropriate, or the controversy will continue. Goal-line technology should be adopted but instant replays should not. Perhaps a second ref is needed, one for each half of the pitch. I don't know the answer but I do know that the status quo is not working.

Posted 23:03 22nd April 2008

Cye Paterson says...

Personally I don't feel the standard of refereeing has kept pace with the game, I certainly don't think so in the case of assistant referees. I watch a lot of live English football on TV and there is hardly a game when the officials don't get either an offside call or penalty call wrong. The reason is two fold: firstly the current speed of the game - not players fault as they are more athletic, ball is lighter, pitches in better shape. Secondly, players diving, feigning injury and arguing most decisions, makes officiating the modern game much harder. Then throw in the pressure/tension that money has brought into the game. The answer? Two referees on the field, each covering a half, combined with video evidence as requested bu officials and a sin bin for dissent. If these (god forbid in the sacred game) "new rules" can actually work in other sports (cricket, rugby, basketball, ice hockey all use one aspect of them) then they can in the so called people's game. Please post all annoyed rebuttels to these Americanised rule suggestions...

Posted 22:16 22nd April 2008

Rory Gregoir says...

Regarding the Respect campaign, respect to some extent must be earned, and is most certainly a two-way street. The Mascharano incident, for example, Mr Bennett neither looked at him, nor spoke to him prior to sending him off and legging it up the touchline. Frankly that is rude and shows a shocking lack of respect from an official that must be showing an example to spectators, children, and players alike. A pair of tight black shorts and a whistle does not earn you respect alone. A respectful and respectable attitude towards the game and the players will.

Posted 17:30 22nd April 2008

Tristan Baker says...

As much as I agree that players berating officials is appalling and something must be done along the lines of rugby, how about referees helping themselves by making correct decisions more often. Although they shouldn't be abused, referees such as Graham Poll, Uriah Rennie, Howard Webb, in fact almost all referees in England, deserve all the abuse they get for making foolish decisions, or "missing" incidents. Perhaps getting better referees who are not foolish and biased would be a good place to start.

Posted 16:41 22nd April 2008

Malcolm Smith (Manchester United fan) says...

I am a referee and would make two points on the Respect for referees debate. If players at the top level are allowed to swear at officials (even a modest lip reader can see what is being said almost every week) then there is little chance of progress. I personally do not accept being sworn at when I am officiating but I am told a more tolerant level is required in the higher levels of the game. I can't see why that is justified. Respect for referees includes providing a welcome and somewhere decent to change on match days. Most clubs I officiate at are pretty good at the former (at least before the game) but often not as good at the latter. I have changed in store rooms, in a disabled persons toilet, and in my car - what message does that send in terms of decent human respect for referees, especially those starting out. The Clubs at grass roots have a real problem with this for themselves too- their own changing rooms are often disgusting. Many Councils no longer maintain pitches and changing rooms to decent standard so perhaps a little more money for the lower level of the game would not go amiss.

Posted 15:36 22nd April 2008

Mike K says...

After playing for many years I took up refereeing last year. I feel the majority of problems in youth football arise from the role models children see on the tv each week. The FA need to stop abuse at the highest level and maybe grassroots will be easier when children see that their role models are behaving. The one thing I can not stand is cheating. All players bend the rules (I did when i played) but those that try to get others sent off by feigning injury need to be taken to account for their actions. Maybe the fa should scrap this stupid, dubious goals committee (how can a goal that has been deflected 6 foot off the line by a defender be given to the attacker, whereas if it hit another attacker its awarded to who it hit last?) Let's use this committee to watch video evidence and start handing out bans/fines and point deductions. If one of the Big Four has a player banned for 8 weeks and losing 8 points then I'm sure they will get their houses in order. As for players going down for treatment every time they're touched why not keep them off the field for 5 mins, unless the foul was a cautionable offence. Maybe then when they are tackled they will get up rather than stopping the game.

Posted 13:26 22nd April 2008

Mark Edwards says...

After qualifying as a referee 2 and a half years ago, it was apparent that some pundits do not know the rules of the game. Furthermore, certain pundits believe they are always right, and I think that there needs to be more control and sanctions over their conduct. When watching a match on TV, spectators are under an incredible influence of what the commentator says. However, their comments are often inaccurate and misleading.

Posted 10:45 22nd April 2008

Fin Mooney says...

I think that soccer has a lot to learn from rugby , I played both at club level and the attitude towards the ref in rugby is far better than soccer, in rugby you must address the ref as 'sir' and any grievances are put through the captain , dissent is not tolerated.I watch rugby and the premiership regulalry and am always amazed at the difference in respect levels in rugby towards soccer , the premiership players should be setting an example and its up to the FA to address the issue.The same can be said in terms of injuries and diving , rugby players spend 80 mins pretending their not hurt while some premiership players spend 90mins pretending they are .Rugby players set a good example to kids in terms of respect towards referees and their honest approach to the game..soccer could learn a lot from the rugby 'model ' towards the game

Posted 10:36 22nd April 2008

John Simpson says...

The latest FA campaign for respect will fail, no one will take it seriously - take Rooney's behaviour on Sunday against Blackburn. First he only gets yellow for a terrible two-footed lunge and then clearly shouts and swears at the linesman and referee and no action is taken. Would a lesser known name have been treated so leniantly? I don't think so. Until referees apply the laws and directives consistently across the board, nothing will change. Kids copy their idols and until the big names get their act together you will have problems all the way down the chain. If the FA wants people to believe they really are trying to do something positive to tackle this problem then they must start enforcing the rules and laws consistently, and if the managers like Ferguson and Wenger attack the referees as they have done recently, dock their teams points - it would stop overnight. Until then it will be just another worthless spin exercise as per normal.

Posted 08:53 22nd April 2008

Graham Hugo says...

Is it any wonder that the players get away with it when senior managers are allowed to "precondition" referees before matches with comments to the papers. They are also very quick to go to their lawyers to contest FA decisions. One case in point when Eric Cantona dived into a crowd to assault a spectator. It was followed up by a Manchester United player, Wallwork, assaulting a referee in Belgium. Both players should never have played again but their lawyers got them off. It is high time to grasp the game back from the people with the money. What sort of message is this sending out to would-be referees?

Posted 07:34 22nd April 2008

Colin says...

I think the team awarded the free-kick should be given the option of moving it forward in the case of dissent. If it brings the ball inside the penalty area, why not make it a penalty? Players won't be long shutting up then.

Posted 02:54 22nd April 2008

Keith Harrington says...

I think it's about time the fa started to dock points from teams when their players misbehave on the pitch. To some teams in the premier league a fine is just a drop in the ocean

Posted 01:36 22nd April 2008

Peter Straughan says...

When a football club is charged with 'failing to control their players', who exactly is charged, the captain, manager, chairman or owner? What if everytime a club is charged, the captain is also banned for 3 games for a minor or more for a major incident? It would certainly give the captain something to do.

Posted 00:23 22nd April 2008

James Gaubert (Arsenal fan) says...

Football has not always been in such a sorry state when it comes to discipline...I don't just mean the ill-discipline of players. To hurl abuse at opposing players on the pitch, to rival fans and to referees/linesmen at all levels seems to be an acceptable part of the game. Is it any wonder this problem is commonplace? How anyone can excuse this behaviour because of the stakes (promotion/relegation) or a game is particularly tense, is beyond me. Show me any football game that's more competitive, tense or important to an equivalent game in rugby and I'll rest my case. The past World Cups for both sports highlighted the increasing disparity of this behavioural problem, putting football to shame. So what's the cause? The professional era with its influx of money and evil accomplice, greed, have played their part in addition to the expectations of the fans, players, managers and investors alike. What about referees? Yes - they make mistakes and should be made accountable. So should the cheats who too often dupe even some of the best referees into rewarding their swindling and punishing the innocent. Why aren't these people made accountable for their actions? Don't the top-flight have a responsibility to lead by example? So make them truly accountable - pitiful fines do nothing to eradicate this pandemic. Even if the referee has made an error, accept it and get on with the game. The vitriolic vilification by players and managers should cause outrage to those that govern the sport. Solution? The FA, UEFA & FIFA need to get their heads out of the sand and use the technology that's available to bring those guilty to justice. Simply force clubs to ban those repeating offenders and that applies to players, managers and fans if necessary. Protect the referees at all levels or the problem might become irreversible.

Posted 22:26 21st April 2008

Paul Farrow says...

The lack of discipline in the game stems from the ridiculous amount of yellows needed to receive a ban. If two yellows equals a red in one game, then why doesn't it apply universally. Five yellows could mean that many reckless or dangerous tackles, resulting in the player missing a Carling Cup match against a League Two team. Is that a fitting punishment? Two separate yellows in two different games should mean a one match ban. Discipline would soon improve. As for the ten yard rule, why is it that the onus is on rugby players in both codes to know how far this is and footballers have to have a referee to tell them? The main culprits are the football authorities worldwide who are too big-headed to copy the good points in other sports. Do readers know that in American football, if you put a hand on an official it's an automatic expulsion from the game? Addressing discipline matters at 'grass roots' is nonsense !! Start at the top and work down.

Posted 22:00 21st April 2008

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