Sir Rod Stewart has slammed parents who shout abuse at his son’s football matches.
The star coaches a boys’ team called The Young Hoops, whose players include his son Aiden, 10.
He said he had been shocked at the language directed at him, the referee and the players by mums and dads on the touchline at matches near his home in Essex.
The 76-year-old said he even had to warn parents of boys in his own team, who play in the colours of his beloved Celtic, to mind their language.
Rod also called for teams to be banned from playing if they don’t tackle the abuse from pushy parents.
He said: “The abuse on the touchline is awful. I run a team, they are called The Young Hoops, and they all wear the Celtic colours.
“We’ve known a few really bad sport parents who will have a go at the referee, have a go at me and it’s just awful.
“With the parents as far as my team is concerned, they have all been spoken to. We can give a little bit of advice but quietly.
“Don’t barrack the referee, don’t have a go at the other supporters. I think what it is is that we live our lives through these kids. I don’t play any more and all my kids play football.”
Asked if teams should be kicked out of their league if they don’t sort out abuse from parents, he said: “That’s exactly how it should be, that is the way to do it.”
A track on Rod’s new album The Tears Of Hercules called Touchline is a football-inspired tribute to his dad Robert, who was born in Edinburgh.
He told how it was sparked by memories of his father coaching a team he and his two brothers played for.
Speaking on the BBC’s Headliners podcast, he said his dad gave encouragement and constructive criticism and was never abusive.
Last month, Rod posted a video on Instagram of him giving a team talk The Young Hoops.
In the clip, he said: “Okay, today’s game. Look at me, all I can tell you is let’s try hard which you always do.
“The teams that have given you trouble are the teams that pass the ball. If we can pass the ball a lot more we’ll do really well.
“No dribbling in your own box and enjoy it.”
