Sunday League Football - Refereeing

[Jammy89]

Interesting article about refereeing in the sunday leagues.

I think he does have a point that players do seem to becoming more physical at this level, something i've seen myself and if that isn't curtailed you could well see it getting worse.

Also if referees feel it's not worth doing anymore, that will have big knock on effects of the level of professionalism you get in the Sunday Leagues.


Sunday morning football referee quits after alleged assault by player
By Matt Davis

BBC Sport

Sunday morning football is a "powder keg waiting to explode", says a referee who is quitting after allegedly being assaulted by a player for the second time in his career.

Ross Hawkes claims he was attacked by a Brereton Town player last weekend while in the process of sending him off for dissent during a cup game against fellow Cannock Chase Football League side Talbot FC.

The 36-year-old says he was punched and kicked, leaving him with a cut eye and injuries to his legs. The game was abandoned and Staffordshire Police say it is investigating reports of an assault.

The incident comes seven years after Hawkes - who is paid £30 per game - was assaulted by another player.

"I have been assaulted twice and it has got worse. The third assault? I do not like to think what that might be," Hawkes told BBC Sport.

"I do not think I can carry on or want to - the risks are too dangerous. Why should I put up with that on a Sunday morning? No amount of money would make it acceptable".

The Football Association says it has "offered support" to Hawkes and a "disciplinary process will take place at an appropriate time".

In a statement, Brereton said "measures have already been instigated to deal with the incident" and that they "do not condone any aggressive or disrespectful behaviour".

The dad-of-two from Staffordshire, who has been a qualified referee for 20 years, says he has seen a trend of players becoming more physical towards officials.

"Verbal anger, threats and aggression are not working on referees because we have become immune to it," said the journalism lecturer. "You start to see them bumping you, jabbing you in the chest to make their point.

"To me, the next logical step is what happened to me. My fear is what happens after this? What does it take to realise Sunday morning football has a huge problem.

"It is a powder keg waiting to explode. Players are getting away with what they like. There is no sense or acknowledgement that this is a massive issue - someone will go a step too far."

Hawkes said he was thankful that players from both teams stepped in to stop the attack.

He added: "I have had people on Twitter saying 'what did you do to provoke the reaction?' - I just refereed a game of football.

"I can't see how I can go back out there and referee with any sense of security - you are out on your own. If a team or player decides to turn on you, you're at their mercy.

"We are the reason the game goes on, on a Sunday morning. Players who think we are bad, imagine how bad the game will be when no referees turn up.

"I did it because I loved football and wanted to be involved in some way."

[toptoon]

Easy to sort - follow rugby union. Captain only can question the ref. Any physical contact at all on the ref - straight red.

[pboromag]

i refereed for one season

sunday league

in 39 games i sent of 7 players with straigt reds

6 players for two yellows and abandoned one game due to crowd fighting with a goalie

i had two fights after the games with players one in the car parkl and one in the pub we were asked to go back to

these players think they are better than they are and are certainly slower than they think

straight reds were for one lad pushing his finger in my chest (i eventually broke his nose in the pub when he tried to carry it on)
one lad swearing and pushing the linesman who was his own club member !!
one lad who threatened me and my family (who he didnt even know!)

i did get a reutation for sending people of and towards the end of the season the players seemed to remember this and the games went with respect for all

but the amount of abuse just wasnt worth the hassle so i carried on coaching

a pity really as a lot of games get called of as you need a qualified referee

the £35 quid a game just wasnt worth the hassle

although one ref i got to know made a decent amount of money
he was unemployed
refereed 3 games in a weekend sometimes 4 and 5 aside during the week

he reckoned he could make 150 plus a week and dint need to claim it against his benefits due to the time he spent doing it apparently

i dont know if this is allowed

[Kal]

in 39 games i sent of 7 players with straigt reds


i had two fights after the games with players one in the car parkl and one in the pub we were asked to go back to the

straight reds were for one lad pushing his finger in my chest (i eventually broke his nose in the pub when he tried to carry it on)