Grassroots football is facing a refereeing crisis due to the vile abuse officials face.
Some amateur leagues only have refs for 40% of games and there are fears large numbers of matches across the land will be called off as they leave the game “in droves”.
Simon Richards, director at e-coach.co.uk, warned of a national shortage unless the abuse a nd even physical assaults from players, coaches and fans stops.
He said: “It won’t be long till thousands of games are being called off every week. One of the major contributing factors is the abuse referees put up with.”
BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire told how her son’s under-14 game was abandoned at the weekend after the ref was abused.
And she said she had witnessed similar incidents repeatedly.
Victoria added: “It is shocking and disgusting. I can’t believe it is happening in kids’ football.
“I have seen it at games where coaches and parents start shouting at the ref.” A discussion of referees this week heard of the torrid time they face.
John Bryant, of the Football Association of Wales, said: “It is not just the players who are abusing referees.
"It is coaches, directors. If everyone is doing it, it’s not seen as wrong. There is part of the population who seem to think that this abuse is acceptable.”
