We all need to look at abuse of referees

The big talking point in Reading football during the past fortnight has been the unrest of referees about the attitude and behaviour of players in the local Reading Football League. Two games have been abandoned by the referees for abuse by players, one only four minutes from the end of extra time. There has even been talk about a referees’ strike, in other words, individual referees not making themselves available for games on one particular Saturday. Clubs would have to provide referees themselves, most possibly unqualified ones.

It may seem that a referee, having put up with the players for over an hour and half, could have carried on for the remaining four minutes but I have spoken to the referee and I agree with his decision. He told me that there had been considerable dissent throughout the game but what triggered his decision was when someone behind his back called him names, using particularly offensive personal insults. It was not a criticism of his refereeing but of his person. He turned around but there was more than one player standing there so it was not possible to detect the culprit. Quite rightly, he thought why should I have to put up with cowardly personal insults when all I’m here for, is so they can have a game of football? 

But it’s not just the abuse; it is also the continual moaning and challenging every decision that spoils the enjoyment for referees. There seems little doubt that behaviour by players has been deteriorating for some years but I think that it is a little more complex than it may at first seem. 

I think referees have become a little too lenient for the fear of being too officious and have not always taken the sanctions that they could. And it starts with the small things. For instance one self-styled expert writing in the refereeing magazine, said don’t worry about getting throw-ins taken from the right place, it only annoys the players. But I think the opposite; throw-ins are where you start to exert your authority. Given an inch, players will take a yard (or ten).

There is no doubt that the clubs themselves must do more. If you click on the Evening Post’s website, www.getreading.co.uk, where incidentally you can read this column should you miss it during the week, you will find excellent contributions from managers of two local clubs.

One feels that if he tries to instil some discipline he will be seen as an outdated dinosaur, whilst the other is trying to do just that, with I believe some success. Both rightly say we need better examples from above. When local players see ten Premiership footballers surrounding the referee, they ask why they can’t do it. But we must also look downwards.

Last month, when trainee youth referees came to their feed-back seminar, we asked them to list any confrontations they had experienced in their first six games since passing the examination. 

What shocked us was that all the confrontation came from parents and coaches coming on to the field to remonstrate about decisions they had made and not from the players. But what an example they were setting their young charges, who’ll grow up believing ‘It’s OK to have a go at the referee.
I actually believe that most players want to have a good kick around on a Saturday or Sunday. Yes, they want to win, but most of all they want to enjoy their game. And so do referees. 

Anyone who has worked in sales will know of the Pareto Analysis, which says 80% of sales come from 20% of customers. It is the same in football. 80% of trouble comes from 20% of clubs and players. Those 20% need to be rooted out. Football will survive without them but it won’t survive without referees. 

Dick Sawdon Smith 

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© R Sawdon Smith 2008