+-

+-User

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.
 
 
 

Login with your social network

Forgot your password?

+-Stats ezBlock

Members
Total Members: 953
Latest: Yorksref
New This Month: 21
New This Week: 3
New Today: 1
Stats
Total Posts: 75100
Total Topics: 5526
Most Online Today: 148
Most Online Ever: 17046
(Mon 29 Mar 2021 19:08)
Users Online
Members: 8
Guests: 80
Total: 88

Author Topic: Referee Assaulted  (Read 1787 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

redman2014

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 19
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #15 on: Thu 13 Aug 2020 09:47 »
This has brought all sorts of memories flooding back for me.

I gave up refereeing in 2008 after becoming disillusioned with the whole system. In all honesty, this was what I said to the league and the County FA.

The real reason was that my confidence had been shot to bits after an assault back in 2002.

I was a late replacement to a youth game on a Wednesday night in between two really big games for me on the Contributory League. It was a favour to the Appointments / Referees Officer who had been let down at the last minute.
There was nothing at stake - just a game between two good sides at the end of the season.

In the second half a tackle went in and I blew the whistle. The game got heated and I stepped in to protect the player who had been fouled. The red mist came down and the player went for me. I was punched to the floor and kicked repeatedly.
I don't really remember much after that. I was taken to the dressing room. The Assistant took over and the game was completed.

I went to the hospital and was admitted for the night and was visited by two police officers who took a statement. Eventually the player was cautioned by the police and that was it.

As you can imagine news spread very quickly. The league and county FA handled it awfully.

I received no help or support from them. Eventually, I had a call from the Referees Officer who basically said.." don't let this get to you". The local RA did not even bother to call. However, it was the comarderie from friends and colleagues that helped.

The result by the County FA was that there were mitigating circumstances and that the player was from a broken family. The hearing made me feel like as if it was my fault. Even independent witnesses said that all the referee did was to try and protect the injured player. The perpertraitor did not offer any defense as such, just to say that regretted it.

One of the moments I will never forget from the hearing was how the manager from the lads team was allowed to question me and on two occasions, he said you couldn't have been that badly injured as you were up reffing the next week.
It was amazing that no one on the panel including a distinguished official did not intervene.

After that, I was okay and carried on. However, the next season I suffered from panic attacks, anxiety and depression.

I cried off games with injuries that I never had. I suppose I should have sort help. However, there was nothing available.

I know this was 18 years ago and I would hope that the support network and system is there to protect referees and officials. I had a clean break from the game in 2008 lining at a Conf game and then never returning. I cried in the dressing and said I cant do this.

I drove home alone and never put a whistle to my mouth ever again.

The punishment that the player got was a 1 year ban and I know that he was playing local pub football on a Sunday whilst banned.

I really do get saddened that this is still happening and from reading stories it seems that the support network for officials seems to be better.



Sad Sad x 7 Informative Informative x 1 View List

ajb95

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,391
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #16 on: Thu 13 Aug 2020 16:13 »
This has brought all sorts of memories flooding back for me.

I gave up refereeing in 2008 after becoming disillusioned with the whole system. In all honesty, this was what I said to the league and the County FA.

The real reason was that my confidence had been shot to bits after an assault back in 2002.

I was a late replacement to a youth game on a Wednesday night in between two really big games for me on the Contributory League. It was a favour to the Appointments / Referees Officer who had been let down at the last minute.
There was nothing at stake - just a game between two good sides at the end of the season.

In the second half a tackle went in and I blew the whistle. The game got heated and I stepped in to protect the player who had been fouled. The red mist came down and the player went for me. I was punched to the floor and kicked repeatedly.
I don't really remember much after that. I was taken to the dressing room. The Assistant took over and the game was completed.

I went to the hospital and was admitted for the night and was visited by two police officers who took a statement. Eventually the player was cautioned by the police and that was it.

As you can imagine news spread very quickly. The league and county FA handled it awfully.

I received no help or support from them. Eventually, I had a call from the Referees Officer who basically said.." don't let this get to you". The local RA did not even bother to call. However, it was the comarderie from friends and colleagues that helped.

The result by the County FA was that there were mitigating circumstances and that the player was from a broken family. The hearing made me feel like as if it was my fault. Even independent witnesses said that all the referee did was to try and protect the injured player. The perpertraitor did not offer any defense as such, just to say that regretted it.

One of the moments I will never forget from the hearing was how the manager from the lads team was allowed to question me and on two occasions, he said you couldn't have been that badly injured as you were up reffing the next week.
It was amazing that no one on the panel including a distinguished official did not intervene.

After that, I was okay and carried on. However, the next season I suffered from panic attacks, anxiety and depression.

I cried off games with injuries that I never had. I suppose I should have sort help. However, there was nothing available.

I know this was 18 years ago and I would hope that the support network and system is there to protect referees and officials. I had a clean break from the game in 2008 lining at a Conf game and then never returning. I cried in the dressing and said I cant do this.

I drove home alone and never put a whistle to my mouth ever again.

The punishment that the player got was a 1 year ban and I know that he was playing local pub football on a Sunday whilst banned.

I really do get saddened that this is still happening and from reading stories it seems that the support network for officials seems to be better.

What an horrific story redman2014 I can’t really say anything except I agree and know what it feels like.

I remember my own experience: I had just turned 18 in the August ahead of a new season and I had become a trusted referee in the league. I used to referee Sunday morning adults and kids on Saturday mornings.
This was a top of the table clash U16s in chadderton, oldham, greater manchester.
I was running late due to an accident on the motorway and kept in contact with the home team manager throughout. This was hard being the only official there. Now I am the first to say that I didn’t have a great game, turning up 5 mins before ko doesn’t help and i probably didn’t see it coming when I should have done.
I refereed the game differently to what i normally do and completely lost control of the game.
The away team won 4-2 (after I had a given a penalty to make it 3-2) and I was confronted by the assistant manager of this home team, At the end of the game. He told me what he thought of me which was fair enough, and i just wanted to get out of there ASAP.
I remember him throwing a punch and it hit me on the side of the head.

Tbf the welfare office of the league - an elderly woman was amazing- gave me amazing support. I sent my report to the league and the county fa, never heard anything. Next I got a message from the county fa asking for me to attend a hearing with my attacker. I was probably very inexperienced or very naive, but I said I couldn’t come and didn’t want to justify myself in front of him.
The county fa then said they wouldn’t be taking the matter any further and the case was closed. I felt let down and very hurt. I felt like I was the guilty one. I got out of refereeing kids football a couple of seasons later and eventually last year i gave up refereeing adult football altogether and just focus on my lines now.
Agree Agree x 1 Sad Sad x 2 View List

Failed Ref

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 381
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #17 on: Thu 13 Aug 2020 17:40 »
Let me make a point that is easily overlooked. At grass root level there is a chance that at least one player on the pitch has a mental condition that they and their friends will not realise they have. This is often a genetic disorder which can be exacerbated by personal circumstances. Never ever slate a player without finding out the true reason behind it. Never.
Society is totally inadequate when it comes to identifying individuals with mental health problems. Patients do not knock on the door to say I am mentally ill, please help me. Family and friends may not recognise it but patient confidentiality, lack of awareness etc. means that there are many people who are mentally ill and are not aware of it. In fact they are in denial. Everyone else is mad.
Internet trolls are often condemned yet I would suggest many are mentally ill and no one has or can do anything about it. So please, let’s not condemn players out of hand.
Referees must also get support but I would suggest they too need to understand that in the more violent cases, the player cannot control themselves. I think that may help referees come to terms with the situation coupled with essential help, support and counselling.
Finally, my mother did irrational things, was abusive, sent out poison pen letters and made life hell for everyone. Only now can I forgive her because I now understand that she was mentally ill, could not control herself and that genetically she was prone to it. Nothing could be done, but her treatment and the treatment of me as a possible career was defeated by a system that did not understand, or would not help often due to stupid rules. Sorry to go on, but I now understand mental illness, it’s prevalence in society.
I hope the referee is OK and gets the support he deserves.

*Please note whistleblower did not find this post funny, the wrong rating was accidentally added & cannot be changed. bmb*
« Last Edit: Sat 15 Aug 2020 12:14 by bmb »
Agree Agree x 1 Funny Funny x 1 View List

Whistleblower

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2,627
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #18 on: Fri 14 Aug 2020 22:35 »
Not sure why my name is listed as giving a "funny" rating as I certainly didn't intend to. Please remove. Nothing funny about people being assaulted, whatever the motivation. Physical abuse is always abuse for the recipient of it.
Like Like x 1 View List

bmb

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,047
  • Gender: Female
  • Causing mischief & mayhem!!
  • Location: Somewhere between Poole & Budapest!
    • View Profile
    • Hungarian Football
  • Referee Level: Observer/Mentor.
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #19 on: Sat 15 Aug 2020 01:59 »
Not sure why my name is listed as giving a "funny" rating as I certainly didn't intend to. Please remove. Nothing funny about people being assaulted, whatever the motivation. Physical abuse is always abuse for the recipient of it.

We can't remove ratings, there is no option/tool for us to do so. We've had this come up before when a wrong rating has appeared.
Hajrá Lilák. Csak a Kispest. Hajrá Magyarok! Hajrá játékvezetői csapat! Soha ne add fel. Nincs sárga kérem!!! No Chris Kavanagh doesn't live in Ashton or even in the Greater Manchester area!!
Informative Informative x 1 View List

Seagull

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 500
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Maidstone
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #20 on: Sat 15 Aug 2020 08:54 »
Not sure why my name is listed as giving a "funny" rating as I certainly didn't intend to. Please remove. Nothing funny about people being assaulted, whatever the motivation. Physical abuse is always abuse for the recipient of it.

When I've accidentally clicked on the wrong icon or changed my mind, there's been an option to "Undo Rating" which appears in the bottom right corner of the comment. If you click on that and then refresh the page, the rating disappears and you can then re-rate it. Hope this helps.  :)

« Last Edit: Sat 15 Aug 2020 09:29 by Seagull »

TheThingFromLewes

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4,036
  • Location: Eastbourne
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #21 on: Sat 15 Aug 2020 09:24 »
Not sure why my name is listed as giving a "funny" rating as I certainly didn't intend to. Please remove. Nothing funny about people being assaulted, whatever the motivation. Physical abuse is always abuse for the recipient of it.

We can't remove ratings, there is no option/tool for us to do so. We've had this come up before when a wrong rating has appeared.

What about if the original post is copied and pasted into a new comment, and then the original post with the funny rating is removed altogether? 😁😁

bmb

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,047
  • Gender: Female
  • Causing mischief & mayhem!!
  • Location: Somewhere between Poole & Budapest!
    • View Profile
    • Hungarian Football
  • Referee Level: Observer/Mentor.
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #22 on: Sat 15 Aug 2020 12:12 »
Not sure why my name is listed as giving a "funny" rating as I certainly didn't intend to. Please remove. Nothing funny about people being assaulted, whatever the motivation. Physical abuse is always abuse for the recipient of it.

When I've accidentally clicked on the wrong icon or changed my mind, there's been an option to "Undo Rating" which appears in the bottom right corner of the comment. If you click on that and then refresh the page, the rating disappears and you can then re-rate it. Hope this helps.  :)



That's ok if you notice in time but once you refresh the page after rating it you can not then undo it and change it. Seems silly to me but all the admin team have had a hunt through settings to change that and can't find any way to do so.
Hajrá Lilák. Csak a Kispest. Hajrá Magyarok! Hajrá játékvezetői csapat! Soha ne add fel. Nincs sárga kérem!!! No Chris Kavanagh doesn't live in Ashton or even in the Greater Manchester area!!
Informative Informative x 2 View List

bmb

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,047
  • Gender: Female
  • Causing mischief & mayhem!!
  • Location: Somewhere between Poole & Budapest!
    • View Profile
    • Hungarian Football
  • Referee Level: Observer/Mentor.
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #23 on: Sat 15 Aug 2020 12:16 »
Not sure why my name is listed as giving a "funny" rating as I certainly didn't intend to. Please remove. Nothing funny about people being assaulted, whatever the motivation. Physical abuse is always abuse for the recipient of it.

We can't remove ratings, there is no option/tool for us to do so. We've had this come up before when a wrong rating has appeared.

What about if the original post is copied and pasted into a new comment, and then the original post with the funny rating is removed altogether? 😁😁

Nothing stopping failed ref from doing that - if one of the admin team do it then it appears as our post! I have added a note at the bottom of the post highlighting it was added in error and can't be changed.
Hajrá Lilák. Csak a Kispest. Hajrá Magyarok! Hajrá játékvezetői csapat! Soha ne add fel. Nincs sárga kérem!!! No Chris Kavanagh doesn't live in Ashton or even in the Greater Manchester area!!

Hendo

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,270
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #24 on: Tue 25 Aug 2020 09:30 »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53889645

Here is video footage of the incident which appeared on the BBC site yesterday.If it is true that the FA and Police have not investigated it yet then that to me is very worrying - the evidence here is clear cut and constitutes nothing short of an assault.
Those who tried to persuade the referee to not press charges, on the grounds that the player may lose his job, should be ashamed. Yes he may need anger management help but regardless of what he does for a living, it is serious incident. And if it is true that he is teacher it brings into question whether someone with such a volatile temper should be looking after kids
Agree Agree x 1 View List

DER

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #25 on: Tue 25 Aug 2020 13:43 »
The referee has let down every other grassroots referee in the country by not pressing charges.

Regardless of the player’s health - mental or physical, or his occupation - the law serves everyone.

QuoCob

  • RTR Veterans
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
  • L5/Ageing but still active...
  • Location: Hampshire
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #26 on: Wed 26 Aug 2020 12:25 »
The referee has let down every other grassroots referee in the country by not pressing charges.

Regardless of the player’s health - mental or physical, or his occupation - the law serves everyone.

I thought that he had changed his mind?

Irrespective of that, if he does have issues or additional information that would/could be considered in mitigation, the court would take that into consideration when determining the verdict.
However, there is no reason why he should not be investigated and/or stand trial
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”  Laurence Binyon

Ashington46

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Ashington, Northumberland
    • View Profile
  • Referee Level: Retired for years!
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #27 on: Wed 26 Aug 2020 12:53 »
The referee has let down every other grassroots referee in the country by not pressing charges.

Regardless of the player’s health - mental or physical, or his occupation - the law serves everyone.

I thought that he had changed his mind?

Irrespective of that, if he does have issues or additional information that would/could be considered in mitigation, the court would take that into consideration when determining the verdict.
However, there is no reason why he should not be investigated and/or stand trial

According to what I was  reading yesterday the police have still not been to interview the referee because they said that they were investigating other matters. As far as I know, he is still wanting to prosecute. The perpretator has contacted him several times asking him not to prosecute and has also told him that he will pay for his time off owrk because of the incident.
Whatever happens next, it is a mess and has no place in football at any level.
Referee's decision used to be final!
Agree Agree x 3 View List

QuoCob

  • RTR Veterans
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 464
  • Gender: Male
  • L5/Ageing but still active...
  • Location: Hampshire
    • View Profile
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #28 on: Wed 26 Aug 2020 13:33 »
The referee has let down every other grassroots referee in the country by not pressing charges.

Regardless of the player’s health - mental or physical, or his occupation - the law serves everyone.

I thought that he had changed his mind?

Irrespective of that, if he does have issues or additional information that would/could be considered in mitigation, the court would take that into consideration when determining the verdict.
However, there is no reason why he should not be investigated and/or stand trial

According to what I was  reading yesterday the police have still not been to interview the referee because they said that they were investigating other matters. As far as I know, he is still wanting to prosecute. The perpretator has contacted him several times asking him not to prosecute and has also told him that he will pay for his time off owrk because of the incident.
Whatever happens next, it is a mess and has no place in football at any level.

Which could be interpreted as a bribe... ::)
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”  Laurence Binyon
Agree Agree x 6 View List

bmb

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,047
  • Gender: Female
  • Causing mischief & mayhem!!
  • Location: Somewhere between Poole & Budapest!
    • View Profile
    • Hungarian Football
  • Referee Level: Observer/Mentor.
Re: Referee Assaulted
« Reply #29 on: Wed 26 Aug 2020 16:16 »
The referee has let down every other grassroots referee in the country by not pressing charges.

Regardless of the player’s health - mental or physical, or his occupation - the law serves everyone.

I thought that he had changed his mind?

Irrespective of that, if he does have issues or additional information that would/could be considered in mitigation, the court would take that into consideration when determining the verdict.
However, there is no reason why he should not be investigated and/or stand trial

According to what I was  reading yesterday the police have still not been to interview the referee because they said that they were investigating other matters. As far as I know, he is still wanting to prosecute. The perpretator has contacted him several times asking him not to prosecute and has also told him that he will pay for his time off owrk because of the incident.
Whatever happens next, it is a mess and has no place in football at any level.

Which could be interpreted as a bribe... ::)

Also intimidating a witness
Hajrá Lilák. Csak a Kispest. Hajrá Magyarok! Hajrá játékvezetői csapat! Soha ne add fel. Nincs sárga kérem!!! No Chris Kavanagh doesn't live in Ashton or even in the Greater Manchester area!!
Agree Agree x 2 View List