RateTheRef

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/12/20/exclusive-fa-launch-clampdown-referee-abuse/

The FA to launch clampdown on referee abuse. It is hoped the new measures will help to both increase referee retention from the Premier League to the grassroots

The Football Association will launch a major clampdown on referee abuse next year amid increasingly toxic behaviour at all levels of the game.

A wide-ranging new "Referee Strategy" will be published in February to improve referee retention and availability while reducing on-field hostilities.

Multiple amateur leagues were cancelled over the past year after a shocking upturn in violence and abuse, with 380 players and coaches banned.

It is yet to be decided exactly what new sanctions will be, but campaign groups have called for bigger fines and bans for individuals as well as clubs, with potential stadium closures another option open to the authorities.

The FA's overall aim is to make refereeing a more welcoming environment, especially for minority groups, from the grass-roots to the Premier League.

In recent months, governing body chiefs have already been taking a more proactive approach in tackling abuse of officials at all levels. Jurgen Klopp, for example, was handed a touchline ban earlier this year after his initial punishment was not deemed severe enough by the FA.

In the grass-roots, meanwhile, the FA has held a national "silent weekend" to stop abusive behaviour from the touchline at youth matches. The major challenge within amateur and grass-roots football is referee retention on a week in, week out basis rather than overall numbers.

The new strategy is still at the consultation stage, but the aim is understood to be ensuring referees are treated as "people and not commodities".

A tougher stance against inappropriate behaviour and abuse will be outlined in the new document. A key ambition is to boost numbers of referees from minority groups to make refereeing more reflective of society.

Grass-roots sporting leaders have repeatedly warned of amateur players aping behaviours in the elite as abuse against referees surge at all levels.

Martin Cassidy, chief executive of Ref Support UK, has been calling for years for tougher sanctions. "We will welcome any escalation of punishments for anyone who abuses or threatens or physically assaults the referee," he told Telegraph Sport on Tuesday.

"We have asked the FA, and we're waiting for a reply, but we would like to see anyone who abuses or assaults a match official to face points deducted for their team. We also feel the FA should act automatically if anyone's found guilty of abuse or threats to a referee under the age of  18. That should be an automatic points deduction too. There needs to be more prevention that ensures that teams and clubs are held accountable for who watches their game and who is on the sidelines at grassroots level." 

The FA took the unusual step of writing to every grassroots participant, whether coach, player or parent, at the start of the season to warn that "inappropriate" behaviour went too far last season and that they will consider harsher sanctions.

Pete Carden, who is 72 and has been refereeing for 36 years in Manchester, has also described how abuse is the worst he has ever known in the amateur game.

He says he was the victim of two match-related assaults in the space of a year. At the elite end, the FA used its right of appeal in November after Liverpool manager  Klopp initially escaped a touchline ban after his red card against Manchester City the previous month. After a review, he was subsequently forced to sit in the stands against Southampton.

Let us see them taking points away to really focus minds!

Let us see them taking points away to really focus minds!

Spot on…

Financial punishments particularly for the PL teams are small change to them. Hit them with a points deduction for each offence and as soon as they slip toward the basement on the league, they’ll soon take note.

I’m a very strong advocate of using points deductions as a weapon to deter these crass loonies who abuse officials on the field.

Anyone who thinks points will be deducted for anything at professioanl level is deluded

Of course it won't happen because the Clubs are cravenly complicit in this bad behaviour and the so called guardians of the national game, the FA ( or the Sweet FA as I have taken to calling them ) are too beholden to the Clubs ( wherein is the cash source through broadcasting rights ) to do anything seriously about addressing the situation. However, it should happen even though it won't.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/12/20/exclusive-fa-launch-clampdown-referee-abuse/

The FA to launch clampdown on referee abuse. It is hoped the new measures will help to both increase referee retention from the Premier League to the grassroots

The Football Association will launch a major clampdown on referee abuse next year amid increasingly toxic behaviour at all levels of the game.

A wide-ranging new "Referee Strategy" will be published in February to improve referee retention and availability while reducing on-field hostilities.

Multiple amateur leagues were cancelled over the past year after a shocking upturn in violence and abuse, with 380 players and coaches banned.

It is yet to be decided exactly what new sanctions will be, but campaign groups have called for bigger fines and bans for individuals as well as clubs, with potential stadium closures another option open to the authorities.

The FA's overall aim is to make refereeing a more welcoming environment, especially for minority groups, from the grass-roots to the Premier League.

In recent months, governing body chiefs have already been taking a more proactive approach in tackling abuse of officials at all levels. Jurgen Klopp, for example, was handed a touchline ban earlier this year after his initial punishment was not deemed severe enough by the FA.

In the grass-roots, meanwhile, the FA has held a national "silent weekend" to stop abusive behaviour from the touchline at youth matches. The major challenge within amateur and grass-roots football is referee retention on a week in, week out basis rather than overall numbers.

The new strategy is still at the consultation stage, but the aim is understood to be ensuring referees are treated as "people and not commodities".

A tougher stance against inappropriate behaviour and abuse will be outlined in the new document. A key ambition is to boost numbers of referees from minority groups to make refereeing more reflective of society.

Grass-roots sporting leaders have repeatedly warned of amateur players aping behaviours in the elite as abuse against referees surge at all levels.

Martin Cassidy, chief executive of Ref Support UK, has been calling for years for tougher sanctions. "We will welcome any escalation of punishments for anyone who abuses or threatens or physically assaults the referee," he told Telegraph Sport on Tuesday.

"We have asked the FA, and we're waiting for a reply, but we would like to see anyone who abuses or assaults a match official to face points deducted for their team. We also feel the FA should act automatically if anyone's found guilty of abuse or threats to a referee under the age of  18. That should be an automatic points deduction too. There needs to be more prevention that ensures that teams and clubs are held accountable for who watches their game and who is on the sidelines at grassroots level." 

The FA took the unusual step of writing to every grassroots participant, whether coach, player or parent, at the start of the season to warn that "inappropriate" behaviour went too far last season and that they will consider harsher sanctions.

Pete Carden, who is 72 and has been refereeing for 36 years in Manchester, has also described how abuse is the worst he has ever known in the amateur game.

He says he was the victim of two match-related assaults in the space of a year. At the elite end, the FA used its right of appeal in November after Liverpool manager  Klopp initially escaped a touchline ban after his red card against Manchester City the previous month. After a review, he was subsequently forced to sit in the stands against Southampton.

Lets see a start with Pickford of Everton for the "in your face" shouting and the finger wagging at the assistant in the Man City game. The only way to stop abuse is with high-level post match punishments, where the referee hasn't seen it.

Quote from: lincs22 on Tue 03 Jan 2023 12:08

Quote from: bmb on Mon 02 Jan 2023 15:35

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/12/20/exclusive-fa-launch-clampdown-referee-abuse/

The FA to launch clampdown on referee abuse. It is hoped the new measures will help to both increase referee retention from the Premier League to the grassroots

The Football Association will launch a major clampdown on referee abuse next year amid increasingly toxic behaviour at all levels of the game.

A wide-ranging new "Referee Strategy" will be published in February to improve referee retention and availability while reducing on-field hostilities.

Multiple amateur leagues were cancelled over the past year after a shocking upturn in violence and abuse, with 380 players and coaches banned.

It is yet to be decided exactly what new sanctions will be, but campaign groups have called for bigger fines and bans for individuals as well as clubs, with potential stadium closures another option open to the authorities.

The FA's overall aim is to make refereeing a more welcoming environment, especially for minority groups, from the grass-roots to the Premier League.

In recent months, governing body chiefs have already been taking a more proactive approach in tackling abuse of officials at all levels. Jurgen Klopp, for example, was handed a touchline ban earlier this year after his initial punishment was not deemed severe enough by the FA.

In the grass-roots, meanwhile, the FA has held a national "silent weekend" to stop abusive behaviour from the touchline at youth matches. The major challenge within amateur and grass-roots football is referee retention on a week in, week out basis rather than overall numbers.

The new strategy is still at the consultation stage, but the aim is understood to be ensuring referees are treated as "people and not commodities".

A tougher stance against inappropriate behaviour and abuse will be outlined in the new document. A key ambition is to boost numbers of referees from minority groups to make refereeing more reflective of society.

Grass-roots sporting leaders have repeatedly warned of amateur players aping behaviours in the elite as abuse against referees surge at all levels.

Martin Cassidy, chief executive of Ref Support UK, has been calling for years for tougher sanctions. "We will welcome any escalation of punishments for anyone who abuses or threatens or physically assaults the referee," he told Telegraph Sport on Tuesday.

"We have asked the FA, and we're waiting for a reply, but we would like to see anyone who abuses or assaults a match official to face points deducted for their team. We also feel the FA should act automatically if anyone's found guilty of abuse or threats to a referee under the age of  18. That should be an automatic points deduction too. There needs to be more prevention that ensures that teams and clubs are held accountable for who watches their game and who is on the sidelines at grassroots level." 

The FA took the unusual step of writing to every grassroots participant, whether coach, player or parent, at the start of the season to warn that "inappropriate" behaviour went too far last season and that they will consider harsher sanctions.

Pete Carden, who is 72 and has been refereeing for 36 years in Manchester, has also described how abuse is the worst he has ever known in the amateur game.

He says he was the victim of two match-related assaults in the space of a year. At the elite end, the FA used its right of appeal in November after Liverpool manager  Klopp initially escaped a touchline ban after his red card against Manchester City the previous month. After a review, he was subsequently forced to sit in the stands against Southampton.

Lets see a start with Pickford of Everton for the "in your face" shouting and the finger wagging at the assistant in the Man City game. The only way to stop abuse is with high-level post match punishments, where the referee hasn't seen it.

Simon Bennett saw it, though, and just stood there and took it.

He knows that his referee and their paymasters do not want the Law (in this respect) correctly enforced.  To do so would endanger future appointments and employment.

Let's give the FA a round of applause once any changes start to have a material and calculated difference. I will reserve judgement until then!

Obviously message not conveyed to the players at one or two games tonight