Dear All – This morning I was asked to contribute to an interview on Radio 5 and Radio 4 in relation to figures on assaults of Referees.

I understand that this has also resulted in a series of enquiries to CFA’s from local and regional meeting. The information concerned was collected in the period August 2010 to the start of February 2011 and is as follows. I also include some of the other messaging that I tried to include in the interview. I also attach the regional breakdown of reported assaults. This has not been provided to the media but use it if you consider it to be helpful.

Regards

Dermot Collins

FA Respect Manager

Football Services Division

Referee Assaults

The definitions of assault are the FA’s and cover offences ranging from knocking a card out of a referees hand, pushing or jostling, striking a match official to serious physical assault leading to bodily harm.

•       In 2008/09 there were 534 referees’ assaults

•      In 2009/10 there were 465 assaults - a 13 % decrease.

•      In 2010/11 the figures up until the start of February are below. A comparison with the same period in the 2009/10 is provided. The rises in the number of common assaults on Referees are a matter of concern

It’s important to recognise that these definitions are defined by football rather than by criminal law. The categories and their recommend punishments are;

(1) Common assault - for instance jostling, holding, and pushing - recommended punishment 182 days suspension

(2) Common assault by way of spitting at a match official - recommended punishment 1 year suspension plus £150 fine

(3) Assaults causing bodily harm - for instance more forceful degrees of (1) - recommended punishment Sine Die suspension with no review to be considered under a period of 5 years plus £250 fine

(4) Serious Assault - for instance where serious harm is caused, such as severe bruising or a broken nose - recommended punishment Permanent Suspension.

In season 2009/10 the FA ran the’ Are you losing it?’ campaign which targeted players. It principally involved paid advertising around the broadcast of Champions League quarter-finals on Sky. Posters were also distributed to all local authorities for display in their public facilities. We are monitoring this year’s figures and if necessary will put in place additional preventative work in the 2011/12 season.

I’d just like to reiterate that although we’re always concerned about Referee assaults the wider picture on Refereeing is generally positive.
 

County Association - Assault on Match Officials Analysis

Assault causing serious bodily harm

Assault causing serious bodily harm

Assault on a Match Official - Common assault