Donegal League clubs warned to blow the whistle on referee abuse

Donegal League clubs have been warned that 'severe sanctions' will be issued for verbal abuse of referees.

The stern message was issued at Monday night's Donegal League AGM at The Diamond Park by secretary Nigel Ferry.

A shortage of officials continues to be an issue with a handful of games having had to be postponed in the season just finished due to no referee being available.

“It is now very urgent that new referees are recruited and trained,” Mr Ferry told club delegates.

“We acknowledge the role of the referee's branch in their support of Donegal League because without their member's interest and participation we would be unable to organise a League.”

Irish Soccer Referees Society (ISRS) Donegal Branch member Con McLaughlin told the meeting that the issue of verbal abuse being levelled at officials remains a problem.

“I made a plea around verbal abuse to referees last year and again it is still there,” the former Finn Harps striker told the meeting.

“The respect that referees were getting lasted for about a week. That was the sum total of it.”

Offenders have now been warned that the League will get tough.

“Verbal abuse of referees has become a major concern for football in Donegal,” Mr Ferry said, making an appeal for clubs to make an effort to address the matter.

“Many clubs are doing this already, however we still have the same few repeat offenders persistently abusing and questioning referees with a sense of entitlement.

“Rest assured this has not and will not be accepted by the Disciplinary Control Unit of the Donegal League. Severe sanctions will be issued to offending clubs.”

Mr McLaughlin urged clubs to appointed a dedicated referee's liason officer to 'meet, greet and pay' referees.

“We aren't expecting too much,” he said. “We expect a bit of respect, that's all. If you look at the figures tonight, €7,000 is just ridiculous for clubs to be paying on fines for ill discipline.”

Clubs were told to give young referees 'a chance' and clubs heard that there are around half-a-dozen referees who will progress into the Donegal League from last season.

“A lot are taking up the whistle and all they want to do is schoolboy and schoolgirl games,” Mr McLaughlin said. “It is the hardest job in football and younger members don't expect – or deserve – the sort of verbal abuse that is going around.”