...By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media.
Increase in violent attacks on referees in English football
The number of violent attacks on referees has more than doubled in the last two years in English football.
A recent FA dossier revealed that there were 106 formal cases in the last year where players, team officials or spectators were charged with assaulting or abusing match officials, compared to 46 cases two years ago.
Referees have been subjected to such violent attacks that they have barricaded themselves in their dressing rooms or decided to quit the game altogether.
Former Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, has commented on the lack of respect shown towards referees in the English game, saying that it seems to be diminishing with each passing day.
Martin Cassidy, from the charity Ref Support, has placed the blame on the perpetrators of these attacks rather than the FA.
He has suggested that the FA’s weak response to these incidents has made referees an easy target.
According to an FA spokesman, there are more than 29,000 referees in England and they are the lifeblood of the game.
The FA has made it clear that all forms of abuse, whether on or off the pitch, are completely unacceptable.
Referees are facing more abuse than ever in recent times, and it is vital that steps are taken to ensure their safety and to protect their rights.
Referees play a vital role in football and without them, the game would not be possible.
It is the responsibility of everyone involved in football to ensure that referees are respected and valued.
