Will Mulvenney investigates why there is a shortage of referees in the beautiful game
Referees are undoubtedly an integral part of the game at all levels of the English pyramid. From local grassroots games in parks to topflight Premier League matches, referees have a unique and vital role. But no matter what referees do, players, managers and spectators seem to never be happy with them. Disagreements with referees are rarely constructive and usually end in expletives or even in some cases they show their ‘passionate’ disagreement with physical violence.
In fact, abuse is the leading factor that makes referees quit each season as the number of officials in England continues to fall. According to a BBC Radio 5 Live questionnaire, 293 out of the 900 referees said they had been physically abused by spectators, players, coaches or managers.
The relentless bombardment that referees receive at adult grassroots level is sickening and has ultimately forced the FA to make changes so referees feel safe. Martin Cassidy, CEO of Ref Support UK said in a recent interview that he fears a referee will even be murdered if the attitudes towards referee abuse do not swiftly change. This statement is damning and gives further justification as to why there is a shortage of referees: they simply don’t feel safe. If significant change doesn’t happen to support referees, then the minority who currently physically abuse referees will become the majority.
The contempt referees face in the Premier League and the EFL, where it feels that every decision is scrutinised with increasing dissent, is filtering down to the grassroots level. Grassroots players and managers are simply copying their heroes they see on the television.
Shockingly, it is often teenage referees who are a victim of these attacks and are threatened by parents and managers of youth teams in public parks where they have no protection and sometimes don’t even have a changing room to avoid the toddler tantrums from the adults.
This behaviour has severe consequences: county league football is struggling to find referees every week. It is even worse in youth football, where in some leagues there are over 50 uncovered fixtures without an appointed referee. If the abuse towards referees doesn’t stop then these 50 uncovered fixtures will become 100 as the shortage of referees will keep increasing.
What solutions have the FA provided?
In February 2023 the FA announced that they would be adopting the use of Body Cams in four counties across open age male grassroots leagues. Since the FA introduced the trial, it has seen undeniable success. It has also been great for grassroots referees as they’ve started to feel safe on the pitch, and they don’t feel like they’re going to get a fist in their mouth at full time.
Dan Meeson, FA Head of Refereeing, Technical and development has spoken about how enthralled he is with the results of this trial. Meeson said, “The players and coaches involved in the trial have said the mere presence of a bodycam has made them rethink their behaviour before saying something or acting in an inappropriate way towards a match official.”
The FA also announced before the start of the 23/24 season began that they’re going to introduce points deductions for repeat offenders of serious misconduct. This should be another stepping stone towards making clubs accountable for their actions.
If points deductions work, then we may see them introduced higher in the pyramid, making referees feel safer and begin to remove the unnecessary scrutiny that escalates to abuse.
Both solutions should act as deterrents for poor participant behaviour. This will hopefully see a surplus of referees rather than a shortage. Without referees, it would simply be game over at all levels of the pyramid in this country.
