1 in 5 community soccer umpires have been assaulted, while others receive death threats: New research

The decisions of the referees have often changed sports fans, especially in a tight match.

In most matches, spectators are loudly stuck, the coaches throw their hands of frustration and the players can cry or even physically intimidate the officials.

He seems to be abusing arbitrators is acceptable. But why? It is certainly not something generally tolerated in other workplaces.

Without referees, the games could simply not go ahead.

This is why we sought to shed light on the situation by looking for what it is really to be an arbitrator of the Australian rules.

Not for shy

The referees (also called referees or match officials) apply the rules of their respective sports to provide fair and safe competitions for all players.

They participate in training and accreditation programs to learn the rules and apply them according to the requirements of the game.

They must be in physically fit and position themselves appropriately on the rules of the game.

But many sports organizations find it difficult to provide enough qualified officials at the base. Between 1993 and 2010, there was a 28% drop in active sport managers in Australia.

Football Australia, the football director of football here has 11,000 officials, but estimates that around 4,200 leave their roles each year.

In many sports, adolescents are working more and more for the junior and senior matches of referees for reimbursement shortages.

However, Australian football of the rules seems to challenge this trend – the number of community finances exceeded 20,000 for the first time in 2024. This is an 18% increase in referees for 2023, largely motivated by a 31% increase in registrations by women and girls.

Despite these record figures, Australian Football League (AFL) and many sports organizations, including Rugby Australia and A-League, are worried about retaining officials.

Abuse of civil servants is one of the main areas of concern.

Our research has focused in particular on what was going on in Australian football rules.

Abuse and even death threats

We interviewed 356 referees at all levels of the Australian football competition rules to examine their abuse experiences.

Almost half declared that he had received regular verbal abuses (injunction, insults, swears and threats). Concern, 21% said they had suffered physical violence (pushing, hitting or assaulting).

As noted by an arbitrator at the level of the state:

“Over time, you end up developing thick skin.”

In an encouraging way, most referees knew that the process officially pointed out any abuse received, more than half indicating that they had officially pointed out at least one incident of abuse.

While many felt supported by the declaration process, only 62% were satisfied with the result.

Like a state referee remembered: “I was attacked two years ago by a spectator. Lucky, I was bigger than him. I was disappointed that he only obtained one year suspension to participate in matches.”

In addition, a senior community football referee commented: “I was threatened with my life this year and the league did nothing about it.”

What can we do?

Many respondents commented on the need to support young referees to have positive experiences.

A potential strategy is to make it clearer when officials are minors.

For example, Netball Victoria provides a green group or brunchy to any referee under 18 to promote respect for players, coaches and spectators.

Other codes may seek to implement similar strategies.

Most of our respondent arbitrators called for the introduction of more difficult sanctions in games and via court systems.

Some have asked that clubs be sentenced to a fine or for spectators prohibited for repeated abuse incidents.

Others congratulated the stricter interpretation of the AFL of the abuse of the referees in 2022, which imposed a penalty of 50 meters for any player showing dissent.

In addition, the referees believed that clubs should assume greater responsibility for the actions of players, coaches and spectators.

A referee said to us: “Cultural change must come from clubs because the downward campaigns encouraging respect do not change hearts and minds.”

This could be in the form of the creation of a positive club culture and zero tolerance abuse policies.

In our research, the arbitrators said it was crucial that the guiding bodies have communicated both the level of evidence required to report the abuses and the functioning of the courts.

As young managers may not know the process, the conduct of this information in the training of arbitrators can help the arbitrators to feel more supported in the declaration of abuses.

Likewise, appropriate sanctions must be imposed to ensure that referees have confidence in the notification system.

Although the number of Australian football rules has increased in recent years, these figures can also decrease quickly.

If we want to keep the referees for the medium and long term, we need guiding organizations such as AFL to approach the frequency and gravity with which the abuse of arbitrator occurs.

As a referee commented on: “The cases of abuse must have consequences, not just a slap in the wrist. Why would someone want to go out and be mistreated for two hours?”

This article is republished from the conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.