Referees say many ex-players refuse to take up the whistle

BBC Radio Wales' Eye on Wales reports the fears of many for the future of the grassroots game.

One administrator said there was such a shortage that the Welsh League and the Cymru Alliance could be without referees.

Eye on Wales is broadcast on Radio Wales at 1800BST on Monday.

The programme says officials are abused by both players and supporters, and there are increasing problems with younger players and their parents.

If we allow the odd idiot on the park who's going to cause trouble to win, then we all may as well wrap up and go home Roger Gifford, Football Association of Wales

Referee George Ridgeway tells the programme: "A lot of parents cause problems at mini-football games. They can use verbal threatening behaviour which can be very frightening at times."

The North Wales Coast Football Association has told its referees next season to inform it immediately of any assaults and the player will be suspended until the referee's report has been received.

The association's Trevor Lloyd-Hughes said there were only 21 referees available for three north Wales leagues, when 46 were needed.

He said the authorities had to be stronger with players, and fine them or hand out more suspensions.

Man United's Wayne Rooney is accused of influencing bad behaviour

"But we are also governed by the Welsh FA, (and) I think they are also realising there is a problem and hopefully we can work together," said Mr Lloyd-Hughes.

Roger Gifford, national referees' officer for the Football Association of Wales, said recruitment was a serious problem with an acute shortage at all levels.

Mr Gifford said the biggest problem was the lack of discipline, but described the number of on-field assaults as "minuscule" in relation to the number of games.

It's part of the rock star syndrome that you behave badly Head teacher Chris Howard on Premiership players

"If we allow the odd idiot on the park who's going to cause trouble to win, then we all may as well wrap up and go home," said Mr Gifford.

"I'll go as far as to say that (with) the current trend of recruitment if it continues, levels three, two and one in the pyramid and particularly one and two which is the Welsh League in the south and the Cymru Alliance in the north will not have referees and that will be a very sad day indeed."

The programme also hears from players and referees who had been assaulted on the field.

Broken jaw

One, Ronan Gregory, was playing for his company football team, the Principality Building Society, last year in a game when the referee failed to turn up.

His jaw was broken by an opponent who was "red with rage". Mr Gregory spent several days in hospital and was off work for six weeks, while his attacker was jailed for eight months.

"Justice was done," said Mr Gregory. "You can't get away with that kind of thing. If you do it on the street you will be punished very similarly.

Wayne Davies, of Ammanford, has given up refereeing after a player he sent off during a local league game in Llanelli verbally abused him and spat in his face. Mr Davies abandoned the game, and the player was banned for two years.

Mr Davies said he was not surprised that people did not want to referee.

"You ask ex-players who are coming towards their last days. (They say) I couldn't put up with what you're putting up with.

"Up until this incident I was loving it. You have ups and downs with players and clubs... but it is getting OTT.

Chris Howard, head teacher of Lewis School in Pengam, south Wales, has criticised the "aggressive obscenities" used by Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney against the referee in a game against Arsenal, which he believes rub off on younger players.

"When watching that game I did think what chance have we got next day if youngsters in school behave in the same way," he told the programme.

"What worries me particularly is that in Premiership it's become commonplace for very aggressive challenge of the referee and linesmen. People see authority figures being abused in that context and I'm sure that over time that kind of thing does rub off.

"However, in defence of poor young Wayne Rooney - who I have to say was much better behaved in the game I last saw him play - he is the product of his generation, not the cause of these problems.

"It's part of the rock star syndrome that you behave badly."