Football officials, especially in the lower leagues, are abused by players, fans and the media. But they have very little protection when they’re out in the middle of the pitch.
So what do officials face on a game-by-game basis?
Three referees spoke to City News about the beautiful game’s ugly side.
Physical and verbal abuse?
Ross Mortimer is a Level 5 FA referee who’s been refereeing for 6 years.
“There’s certainly a lack of respect in every game you’ll do.”
Ross, third from left, was a cup final 4th official in the Sunday League Challenge Cup. credit: Henry Thomas-Aldridge
“You can know the laws (of the game) inside out, but if you don’t know how to manage a game of football on the pitch, you’re not going to be a very good referee.”
Perhaps what’s most shocking is the physical abuse he receives and is threatened against him and the effects he has to deal with.
“Sometime it’s quite a depressing evening if you know you’ve had a bad game, you don’t really want to talk to anyone about it.”
Ross says he often faces threats of physical abuse.
“I’ve been hit on the back of a head from a bottle that was thrown… I was very shaken up after the game.”
“As officials you obviously have to deal with that with the right sanctions but also deal with it personally.”
Sexist Abuse
Stacey was assistant referee in the 2017 Women’s FA Cup Final. credit: Henry Thomas-Aldridge
According to Ross, referees are physically threatened, but not as often as they face verbal abuse.
Stacey Pearson, a Level 4 FA official who referees in both the men’s and women’s game, has to commonly put up with verbal abuse, often with a sexist element to it.
£If you’re a female referee, you will have received some sort of abuse”.
Stacey was subject to sexist abuse in particular game last season. After making a decision, she says a manager lashed out, saying “you should be in the kitchen doing the dishes, not refereeing.”
Stacey sent the manager off and the match continued.
But sometimes referees have to take drastic action.
Referee action
Level 5 FA referee, Peter Kenny Agboola, says abuse stretches the limits of referees. In a match this season he was officiating a match without assistant referees and had no support.
Peter Kenny Agboola officiates at least one match a day whilst also being a teaching assistant. credit: Henry Thomas-Aldridge
“The club didn’t agree with an offside call. In the end, the abuse became too much and I had to abandon the game”.
“I didn’t know what else to do. I just felt so lonely.”
Referees have the power to send players and staff away from the field of play. But, as Peter knows, following the laws of the game doesn’t always feel enough to protect their safety.
Kid’s matches
Peter also officiates at kid’s level, and says abuse often spills into kid’s matches.
The language from parents can be shocking, says Peter. He finds it particularly surprising that this goes on within earshot of children.
“The abuse at kid’s level is worse than in the men’s game. I won’t go into what they say but it’s pretty bad.”
He believes it sets a bad example, and is perhaps why abuse is so ingrained in football.
What does the future hold?
Ross, Stacey and Peter have all been subject to some sort of abuse, but is there hope for football officials in the future?
“Education is the key step”, says Lee Markwick, the Referee’s Association Welfare Officer.
Mr Markwick has met with the government’s football policy advisor, Sam Haylen. They discussed policies including sin-bins, referee bodycams and deflation training for officials.
Lee believes the new education system requires “managers, chairman and spectators to take more responsibility in the behaviour of people in charge of children.”
But there is still a long way to go to make football a better environment for Ross, Stacey, Peter and every other football official in Britain.
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HeadlineCity Investigates: Abuse, life as a football official
Short HeadlineCity Investigates: referees face 'endless abuse'
StandfirstFootball officials in Britain are subject to abuse every game and those effected want to see change.
Football officials, especially in the lower leagues, are abused by players, fans and the media. But they have very little protection when they’re out in the middle of the pitch.
So what do officials face on a game-by-game basis?
Three referees spoke to City News about the beautiful game’s ugly side.
Physical and verbal abuse?
Ross Mortimer is a Level 5 FA referee who’s been refereeing for 6 years.
“There’s certainly a lack of respect in every game you’ll do.”
Ross, third from left, was a cup final 4th official in the Sunday League Challenge Cup. credit: Henry Thomas-Aldridge
“You can know the laws (of the game) inside out, but if you don’t know how to manage a game of football on the pitch, you’re not going to be a very good referee.”
Perhaps what’s most shocking is the physical abuse he receives and is threatened against him and the effects he has to deal with.
“Sometime it’s quite a depressing evening if you know you’ve had a bad game, you don’t really want to talk to anyone about it.”
Ross says he often faces threats of physical abuse.
“I’ve been hit on the back of a head from a bottle that was thrown… I was very shaken up after the game.”
“As officials you obviously have to deal with that with the right sanctions but also deal with it personally.”
Sexist Abuse
Stacey was assistant referee in the 2017 Women’s FA Cup Final. credit: Henry Thomas-Aldridge
According to Ross, referees are physically threatened, but not as often as they face verbal abuse.
Stacey Pearson, a Level 4 FA official who referees in both the men’s and women’s game, has to commonly put up with verbal abuse, often with a sexist element to it.
£If you’re a female referee, you will have received some sort of abuse”.
Stacey was subject to sexist abuse in particular game last season. After making a decision, she says a manager lashed out, saying “you should be in the kitchen doing the dishes, not refereeing.”
Stacey sent the manager off and the match continued.
But sometimes referees have to take drastic action.
Referee action
Level 5 FA referee, Peter Kenny Agboola, says abuse stretches the limits of referees. In a match this season he was officiating a match without assistant referees and had no support.
Peter Kenny Agboola officiates at least one match a day whilst also being a teaching assistant. credit: Henry Thomas-Aldridge
“The club didn’t agree with an offside call. In the end, the abuse became too much and I had to abandon the game”.
“I didn’t know what else to do. I just felt so lonely.”
Referees have the power to send players and staff away from the field of play. But, as Peter knows, following the laws of the game doesn’t always feel enough to protect their safety.
Kid’s matches
Peter also officiates at kid’s level, and says abuse often spills into kid’s matches.
The language from parents can be shocking, says Peter. He finds it particularly surprising that this goes on within earshot of children.
“The abuse at kid’s level is worse than in the men’s game. I won’t go into what they say but it’s pretty bad.”
He believes it sets a bad example, and is perhaps why abuse is so ingrained in football.
What does the future hold?
Ross, Stacey and Peter have all been subject to some sort of abuse, but is there hope for football officials in the future?
“Education is the key step”, says Lee Markwick, the Referee’s Association Welfare Officer.
Mr Markwick has met with the government’s football policy advisor, Sam Haylen. They discussed policies including sin-bins, referee bodycams and deflation training for officials.
Lee believes the new education system requires “managers, chairman and spectators to take more responsibility in the behaviour of people in charge of children.”
But there is still a long way to go to make football a better environment for Ross, Stacey, Peter and every other football official in Britain.
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