Death threats, drunken attacks and a stream of verbal abuse has prompted football referees to go on strike to take a stand against thuggish players.
Officials from the Warley and District Sunday League refused to officiate at matches yesterday to try and force clubs to take the problem seriously.
The 40-strong group say referees are regularly chased and attacked and players often turn up drunk and aggressive.
A meeting yesterday even heard how one man threatened to kill a referee.
See also: Ref knocked out by keeper Youth league tackles trouble
Herville Hector, a senior referee with the league and vice chairman of the Warley Referees Association said: “You see people turning up at 10.30am drinking beer at the side of the pitch.
“Or they have come straight from a party, are tired and take their frustrations out on the referee.”Mr Hector, aged 48, has been a referee for 25 years and is also a steward at West Bromwich Albion.
He added: “One referee was chased to the dressing room by a player following a game, who tried to force his way into the dressing room.
“The police were called, but all they could do was escort the referee away.”
Matches due to be held at Lion Farm Playing Fields in Newbury Lane, Oldbury, yesterday were called off due to the weather - but other games, due to go ahead in Smethwick and other areas were left without officials.
A meeting was held at the Birchley Park Social Club at the sports fields yesterday, where the 40-strong group agreed to lobby a meeting of the Committee of the Warley and District Sunday League tonight.
At the hour-long meeting yesterday members shared their experiences.
They told how one man threatened to kill a referee, others had been ambushed in car parks and most had been victims of vicious verbal abuse. They have not ruled out refusing to officiate next week’s matches, with the decision to be made after tonight’s meeting.
Mr Hector said: “This isn’t what we want to do, but it is the only way we can take a stand about what’s happening.”
By Sally Walmsley
29 Comments
This behaviour goes all the way to the top. Just look at the way professional footballers react when a decision is made by a referee. When recently watching the Rugby world cup I was amazed by the respect the players have for the referees, never arguing or shouting at them. Footballers could learn a lot from Rugby players and start showing some respect!!!
we have the same problem in wolverhampton the managers of the teams sould be held accountable that would sort thing out
One of the greatest problems is that these “parks” referees do not do it for the enjoyment but for the pound notes … their knowledge of the game is poor and all that happens they do not have the experience of how to deal with players …common sense and man management needs to be applied … I make these comments from the experience of being a referee and having help senior positions within a county FA
parks refs are poor,, and your not is that your comment then ?try and be serious please.
Mark No.3
Park Refs???
All qualified referees have to undertake a 10 weeks coure followed by 2 hour written test and 2 hour oral test. They know the ‘Rules’ far better then any Player,Manager or Supporter. And as for doing it for the pound notes dont make me laugh ‘£20′, by the time the expences are taken out i.e FA Affiliation fees, Travelling expences, kit, RA fees,not much left (if any) at the end of season Costs. Yes Mark let all refs go on strike and see how you would get on then?
You do see some shocking behaviour towards officials I cant blame some of them for taking a stand. But some officials are just jumped-up postmen on an ego-trip. Only this weekend I have heard of a local referee threatening violence to a manager of a 7 a side team. This didn’t occour during a game involving both but whilst the pair were watching the Wolves-PNE game.
What a sad world we live in….
These players should be taught a lesson in manners….I’d walk them on and off the pitch.
Mark.. If you were a referee or helped with senior posistions within the county FA, I seriously dont know how you can justify your comments.. ALL Sunday league refs have to be qualified, I certainly wouldnt call them “Park” refs!!!!
I have played many games with no referee due to lack of local officials and there is no doubt that any ref is better than no ref. To say all parks refs are poor is unfair, sure sometimes these refs have a poor game but what player has never had a bad game themselves. The only difference being that the ref doesnt spend 90 minutes abusing them!! these people ref because they love the game.I respect them but dont envy them.
run a club in the Warley & District Sunday League and we had a situation yesterday where we had to play our game without a referee as nobody bothered to tell the clubs that there was a strike – not exactly responsible and reasonable behaviour by the referees. Every four weeks we have to sit through a meeting being spoken to like children by the league hierarchy when in fact 99.9% of the clubs are well run, disciplined, responsible and would be more than happy to assist with solving the problem rather than being spoken down to.
If the league took action against the very small minority of clubs and players who cannot behave and drag the passionate world of Sunday Football into the gutter this problem would not exist. No tolerance is the key – ban louts and the clubs that allow them to play and leave the well behaved players and well run clubs to compete fairly and happily pay the referees their £22 fee for an enjoyable game.
i am the person robbaker eluded to in his comment(no.6)
a wolverhampton referee did make the offer of a fight to me at the match on saturday. i declined.
this referee is known as a bit of a wally on the 7’s circuit. he said i had given him so much stick in a league that finished in september that this was his reasoning for taking me outside! we were already in the open-air.
it works both ways.
Simple as this - If refs play fair, stop cheating then there won’t be a problem.
I went to see my local team play and the linesman got a decision completely wrong, I challanged him and he answered back ‘we know the rules’ well im sorry but they don’t, a goal kick is taken in the box and not 10 yards outside!! FA need to get this sorted and scrub out biased refs. Play Fair, be fair - not much to ask.
To support my comments I have referred to “supply level” and also on the “parks” …. I have been a referees secretary so know exactly what I am talking about …. my comments about “parks” referees are those who may referee a game on saturday after and then ref two maybe three games on a sunday … these are the people who I feel referee for the “cash” which is claimed tax free …. some of these people have little idea what really happens on a pitch …. the best way to referee is to do it with a smile and man manage a game …. I am attempting to be constructive in my comments and would happily discuss further if a method was available
I see where the abuse comes from to be honest, I dont play Sunday league much any more, and to be fair when I did the standard of referees wasnt too bad. There were the odd few bad ones but nothing major.
However I play football every night 7 a side and the referees there are the most consistantly bad referees i have ever come across.
I think every referee should be assessed at random times by the F.A at least 5 times a season. If the referee’s werent as bad as they are the abus would stop, and assessing them would filter out the good from the bad.
I started reffing at 16. I had, on average, 2 threats a month. by the time I was 17 i’d had enough and packed it in. No spport from the RA or the B’ham FA at all. In them days it was 10 quid a game fro refs - hardly lucrative!!!
Any referee who is in the “promotion” scheme will be assessed at least three times … however I go back to my first statement about referees only doing it for money ….. these will not be looking to be in any promotion scheme and are content with doing what they do …. no league can pick and choose referees as there is a nationwide shortage … how do people suggest we move forward?
Some of these people have little idea what really happens on a pitch …. the best way to referee is to do it with a smile and man manage a game …. I am attempting to be constructive in my comments and would happily discuss further if a method was available,
Perhaps you could begin by giving yourself a reality check, I for one dont think you are anything to do with refereeing ,,what qualifies you, thankyou
Have you seen some of the behavior of some or the parants at childrens matches,amazing
In response to Josie …… kindly dont dispute that I am a referee and that everything I have stated is true.
Have you set foot on a pitch as a referee? From your comments I guess not …..
Ehich is a better way to referee …man manage with a smile or go out there and be a little Hitler waving cards?
moggy said: Dec 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 pm I started reffing at 16. I had, on average, 2 threats a month. by the time I was 17 i’d had enough and packed it in. No spport from the RA or the B’ham FA at all. In them days it was 10 quid a game fro refs - hardly lucrative
Exactly I totaly agree Moggy,
perhaps you did not man manage them correctly, or er, erm, smile at the players enough.I mean men smiling at men ,,well i mean that can be a bit dicey dont you think.
Questions what knowledge of football that Josie appears to have ……..
Maybe they should suggest a local game on a “park” when we can view the game and pass comments about it … as for £10 per match that is rubbish as anyone who referees knows …. 2 threats per month? In my 10 years I never received one …. there is banter on a pitch but it ends after 90 mins when a drink can be shared
I dont think Josie knows a lot about football.. Players only abuse the ref if he gets it blatently wrong
Mark is in the know
Andy the ref will walk you Josie!
‘In my 10 years’
Hi Mark.
So your a newcomer then!!!,when I’m asked what level I am I always reply (level 4) whats yours Mark.
In answer to Josie’s question I am level 5 as no longer officate at the higher level eg MFA British Gas etc ….. If Josie is in the know as much as implies then I am simply amazed at the comments being made …match fee £10 etc etc ……..
Give us Ref’s a break. I break my neck getting to Heath Park on a Monday. You try teaching people to drive, making samosas and then officiating.
I never see the wife.
Oh mark please,it was comment 15 that correctly stated that it ‘was £10 in them days’not me ,before that it was even less ,please read comments carefully before posting thanks. All refs deserve more pay thats what i say.
All comments are read carefully and responded tom correctly …. I honestly dont believe Josie has ever been appointed to a game …. if I am incorrect where will you be officating this weekend and I can come and watch …
you are incorrect ‘again’
Why
Because I clearly dont believe that you referee at the level you state …. just state where you are an official this weekend and I will look on FA website
When people make comments they should be factual and as far as I am concerned the statements being made are simply misleading others
So lets prove once and for all if you statements are true …. where are you an offical this or next weekend?