Central Coast soccer facing referee crisis as whistleblowers abandon the game due to sideline abuse

Central Coast Football is facing a looming referee crisis with whistleblowers abandoning the game because of abuse. The decline in numbers is shocking.

Referees are leaving soccer on the Central Coast because of abuse. (File image: Troy Snook)

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Central Coast Football (CCF) has emailed clubs asking for their support after an exodus of referees this season fed up with abuse and threats of violence.

CCF has also called for expressions of interest for anyone considering becoming a referee after numbers have plummeted by more than half.

“We are losing referees at a rapid rate and while partly due to COVID, we have had numerous incidents of late where referees have been abused, threatened with violence and accosted in carparks,” CCF’s email to clubs read.

Referees are getting sick of abuse from coaches, players, parents and spectators. Stock image Picture: iStock

“On the weekend just gone we have had two serious incidents that have caused referees to question whether they continue.

“CCF continue to educate referees and put plans in place for the growth but we need your support.

“At the start of the season we had 226 referees across the Central Coast. Last weekend we had 90 available for appointment to games.”

The decline in available referees is also stretching CCF’s preferred procedure of limiting a referee to officiating a maximum of three games in a single day to prevent fatigue and poor decision making.

Penrith soccer coach Stan Ackerley is ordered from the bench by the match referee after a game was stopped in Sydney because of constant abuse being screamed at the referee. Picture: Nick Andrean

There were 577 soccer games played at the weekend, of which 256 where competition games involving teams in U12s and up and 321 “non-comp” games involving teams in U11s and down.

CCF chief executive Darren Sprod.

Five of the games were Battlewin Premier League (BPL) matches which require a centre referee and two linesmen, or the equivalent of 15 suitably qualified referees.

CCF CEO Darren Sprod said existing referee numbers could cover about 80-85 per cent of competition games with the shortfall being covered by untrained people put up by the home team.

However he said that coverage figure was “inflated”.

“Now we’ve go the situation where refs are doing five games a day,” he said.

“They’re starting at 9am and finishing at 5pm, which is not ideal.”

Mr Sprod said generally first grade games — the fastest and toughest matches which require the most out of a referee — were starting at 3pm, which was “a vicious circle” of fatigue if a referee had been officiating more junior games all day.

He said COVID-19 was a bit of a problem if a referee went down with a sore throat the day before, but it was really the abuse and threats of violence which was seeing referees leaving en masse.

Linesman and referee shake hands with members of Kincumber’s girls team after their match following a regulation requiring players to shake hands with referees and linesmen after matches on Central Coast in 2003. Pic: Gary Graham.

“Part of it is people get to this part of the year and get sick of people yelling abuse at them all day,” he said.

The beautiful game’s popularity is also straining referee coverage.

Mr Sprod said a few years ago CCF had more than 300 referees for about 11,500 registered players.

This year, despite a shortened season, there are about 14,000 registered players.

“Our challenge is we need 50-60 (additional) active refs to cover what we need,” he said.

Mr Sprod said there were “pretty severe disciplinary measures” regarding umpire abuse implemented this season but urged spectators and fans not to threaten or abuse referees in the first place.

“Refs are human, they will make mistakes,” he said.