Grass-roots teams will be hit with points deductions for abusing referees under landmark new sanctions from the Football Association to combat rising on-field hostilities throughout the game.
The Football Regulatory Authority has approved the radical punishment, which has been ratified by the FA Council for amateur leagues for the start of the 2023-24 season.
Mark Bullingham, the governing body’s chief executive, has championed tougher protections following “consistent feedback from across grass-roots football that player behavior is a significant issue”.
Bullingham is also consulting with the professional leagues about improving “poor behavior” in the elite game. An announcement is expected before the start of the new season.
Multiple amateur leagues were canceled last year after a shocking upturn in violence and abuse, with 380 players and coaches banned. Points deductions will now “specifically target offending teams where its participants commit serious misconduct, making it clear to clubs that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated”, the FA will announce.
“This is a significant step for grass-roots football in England, and clearly outlines our commitment to tackle incidents of serious misconduct,” Bullingham will say.
Which teams will be punished and when?
The punishment will apply where players or coaches commit repeated offenses of serious misconduct. Deductions will affect clubs at step seven and below of the men’s game, and clubs across tier three and below in the women’s pyramid.
The FA has been in coordinated efforts to tackle abuse all season. Telegraph Sport reported in December how a wide-ranging new Referee Strategy was also being developed to improve referee retention and availability. “Silent weekends”, where spectators are urged to avoid shouting from the touchline, have also been trialled.
But warnings of points deductions is by far the most radical move yet. The FA’s announcement does not apply to elite levels, but the move will delight amateur referees and organizations such as Ref Support UK, which has been calling for tougher punishments for months.
Deductions will range from three to 12 points depending on the number of breaches within 12 months of the team’s first offense and the severity of the case.
Cumulative incidents of serious misconduct can include acts of discrimination and assault or attempted assault, and physical contact or attempted physical contact against a match official, the FA stipulates. “We frequently hear from grass-roots participants that player behavior is a growing issue and we’re determined to change this,” Bullingham said. “So from the beginning of the 2023-24 season, players and coaches who repeatedly offend will hurt their team by losing points. Unacceptable behavior towards other players and officials will not be tolerated.”
What about the professional game?
Martin Cassidy, who has campaigned for years for tougher sanctions as chief executive of Ref Support UK, immediately welcomed the announcement. “This is another great example that the FA are trying to get a grip of a problem that has been left to run unabated for far too long,” he said.
In February, the FA also launched a referee body-cam pilot – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – in four grass-roots leagues, after permission was granted by the game’s lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board. Cassidy added: “Along with the body-cam pilot, this is evidence that football is not accepting the abuse that is aimed at referees at all levels of the game. We really appreciate the FA listening to us and bringing in this welcome development.”
In recent months, the FA has been taking a more proactive approach in tackling abuse of officials at all levels. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, for example, has received two touchline bans over the past season over his behavior towards referees. In November, the FA had to appeal to get him suspended after his red card against Manchester City the previous month.
Potential safety concerns for referees as a consequence of bad player or coach behavior at lower levels are much more serious, however. The FA took the unusual step of writing to every grass-roots participant, whether coach, player or parent, at the start of last season to warn that “inappropriate” behavior 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.
Tajean Hutton, head of grassroots and community at the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, hailed “a landmark moment which has the potential to transform the way that discriminatory behavior in football is addressed”.
“Kick It Out have received multiple reports from players across grassroots football this season who have been forced to endure violent and discriminatory abuse while playing the sport they love, so we know how essential this announcement is for improving the culture at this level,” he said. “We commend The FA for sending out a strong statement that serious misconduct against players or officials will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work closely with our partners across football to ensure that grassroots is a safe and inclusive space for all.”
What are your thoughts on football teams facing point deductions for referee abuse? Join the conversation in the comments section below
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.