26 September 2023 , 16:04
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An investigation has been launched after a shocking video emerged of a football referee being chased across the pitch by an irate parent at the end of an under 18s match.
Roger Hughes had just blown the full time whistle in the game between Portland United and Merley Cobham Sports in Dorset when the ugly incident happened. Home team Portland won the Dorset Youth match 2-1. The angry dad, who was with the away side and had been acting as a linesmen, is said to have confronted Mr Hughes over several decisions he had made in the game.
The official was then allegedly called a ‘fat c**t’ by one of the players who was shown a red card by Mr Hughes. The parent then ‘lost the plot’ and chased after Mr Hughes. The video shows the burly man dressed in jeans and a blue top sprinting across the pitch while Mr Hughes runs away.
Another man is then seen to drag the parent away before he could reach Mr Hughes. During the shocking incident, shouts and laughing can be heard from some of the players and parents off camera. Mr Hughes, who is an official referee registered with the Dorset FA, has reported the matter to Dorset Police.
Irate parent confronts the ref as onlooker intervenesHe said: “The assistant (referee) who is a parent refused to give me my flag back and he then started walking towards me. I was walking back and then he started chasing me down the pitch.” The incident, that happened at Portland Utd’s ground, has been condemned by Portland Utd, the Dorset FA and the charity Ref Support UK.
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A statement from Portland United said: “Portland United will not tolerate this action and has forwarded evidence collected at the game to the relevant governing body. “ There has been an alarming rise in the level of abuse and physical attacks dished out to youth football referees by parents and club officials.
Over the years the FA has launched numerous ‘respect’ initiatives targeting grassroots football which is aimed at reducing tensions between parents on the sidelines. Last weekend Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas was slammed for calling referee Robert Jones a ‘complete s..thouse’ following the Arsenal-Tottenham match.
He later apologised* saying he “got it wrong”. He said: “My emotions got the better of me and I apologise to The FA and to all match officials.” Martin Cassidy, the chief executive of Ref Support UK, said: “I have spoken to the referee involved in the Portland game and he is very anxious about what happened. He has reported the matter to the police.
“The referee finished the game and went to get his flag back from one of the linesmen who wouldn’t give it back and complained about some of the decisions he had made. A player then called the referee a fat c**t so he gave him a red card. The parent of that child, who was the linesman, lost the plot and chased after the referee.
"There was another guy who dragged the person away... People think that referees are fair game and can be abused. It is totally unacceptable and has got to stop.” Roger Vaughan, the chief executive of Dorset FA, said it is a terrible image for grassroots football. He said: “As a referee you don’t go out and referee to be chased around a field.” Merley Cobham Sports have been approached for comment.