Grassroots categorically condemns an alleged assault on a schoolchild referee at an U/7s junior football match.
It has been alleged over the bank holiday weekend that a school child referee aged just 14 was head butted for sending off an abusive spectator.
Thankfully the youngster is fine but shaken. Grassroots understands that the incident has been reported to the authorities and the Police have been informed.
At this time we cannot comment further on the incident however we will update in due course.
Today’s reports of extreme violence are rare in comparison to the number of games played without incident. Although incidents of verbal abuse are currently at unacceptable levels and much more work needs to be addressed in this area, the reported levels of violence remains extremely low.
This incident follows on the heels of Graham Ekins, from Surrey Youth League, who was forced to write an open letter to all its clubs after a number of alleged “serious incidents” in one weekend of the sport. These include head-butting and abuse towards a linesman; Two parents fighting on the touching and a referee being threatened with a stabbing by a parent.
While incidents of this nature do happen and “can not be condoned” extreme incidents are very rare and there are a lot more positives in youngsters being part of the grassroots family.
There are so many positives linked with grassroots football, not only does it create lasting friendships, it provides a place where football is inclusive to all youngsters whatever their ability.
We know a lot of parents are passionate when watching their child play, and sadly that passion can manifest into incidents where referees have been verbally abused or anger has flared between parents.
This kind of behaviour can not and should not be condoned – however it is extremely rare to view extreme violence at a grassroots football match and there are a lot more positives associated with grassroots football that unfortunately does not get the coverage it deserves.
And this is what’s wrong with football in this country. This is why we’ll never win the Euro’s or the world cup again. It’s all well and good you lot up in the ivory towers of football crowing about how this needs to change and that needs to change and spending millions of £’s examining how other countries do it so we can find the right precedent, but you actually do nothing. Until you instill the correct levels of behaviour at ALL levels, including those at the very top, you will never change it. Your rhetoric is empty and substanceless without true dedication and real action. You talk about respect but we see a total lack of it day after day in the premiership and all levels below so things will never change. Managers, coaches and scouts in this country are so blinkered by their own ideas of what is a good footballer that they miss what’s right in front of their faces. The entire system is garbage. Total, total garbage but you’re all so blinkered, allowing people to claim and maintain their own little empires that you’ll never ever have the bottle to change anything.