Hundreds of grassroots referees tell the BBC they fear for their safety when refereeing and are dissatisfied with the current measures to tackle abuse.
from either spectators, players, coaches or managers.while officiating, while 375 had received personal abuse about things like their appearance, gender, race or sexual orientation.against them or their loved ones had been made against 283 of the respondents.of 361 who answered the questionnaire.The amount of abuse towards referees is worse now than five years ago, according to 440 of the respondents.
Ryan, 30, from Lancashire, once had to hide in a back street for an hour after being chased by players. Megan, 18, from Oxfordshire, had a parent come on the pitch with raised fists after she sent a child off."I think he got a six-match ban and fined, but that isn't enough. "We need legislation at government level which offers us protection. The police need to take assaults on referees as criminal matters not just 'a football matter', and the FA needs to invest more and increase sanctions.""I've had players at under-13 level swearing at me and parents undermining my authority.
"We understand the challenges that some of them face, and we have been very clear that all forms of abuse, whether on or off the pitch, are completely unacceptable.
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