Joe Duffy has described the time he saw the father of a schools rugby player headbutt a referee as one the "most shocking scenes" he has ever witnessed.
The Liveline host was discussing the challenges faced by refs at kids' sports matches on the programme this afternoon when he revealed details of the shocking incident that left the man in the middle with a broken nose.
He said: "I was at a rugby match once where a family member, the father indeed, of a player on the opposing team disagreed with a decision that the referee made.
"It was one of the most shocking scenes I ever witnessed. The father ran on to the pitch and headbutted the referee and broke his nose, much to the shame of his son.
"Then the father disappeared into the crowd and then the police were subsequently called."
Israel Ibeanu, who referees underage soccer matches in Dublin, also appeared on the show and revealed the abuse he regularly receives during matches.
He said: "The common ones are the Specsaver ones and all that type of stuff, which I don't tolerate. Abuse is abuse. Little or large, it's abuse, so I don't take any abuse at my football games."
Isreal added that while he loved to see parents come to matches to encourage their children, there are times when he has to draw the line at abuse from the sideline.
And the no-nonsense ref revealed how he manages to keep order and ensure the kids enjoy the game as much as they can.
"I would never, ever interact with parents because their kids are their angels and they never do anything wrong, so I go straight to the manager," he said.
"I have a conversation with the manager and I say to him, 'it's either he's gone or I'm gone', and I give them about two minutes.
"I tell the manager on the other side as well because there's no point in making it difficult. It's for the kids, it's not for you.
"So when I'm then standing in the middle you see the change. Even the players are then telling the dad or the mum or the uncles to leave because they want to play."
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