Who'd be a ref ?

[Kingsleyclaret]

Hipper - the umpire decides and it's usually pretty obvious who's complaining about a decision or shouting from the side lines. There's a bloke over here who coached the national team, is a legend of the sport, inducted into the hall of fame but was the worst offender for abusing the umpires. His team would have at least one green card a game. It might not work in football, but I know for sure in hockey, parents shut up pretty quickly if they are responsible for the team going a man down.

[Hipper]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61425471

I like the description in the comments:

'Football a game for gentlemen played by hooligans - rugby a game for hooligans played by gentleman.'

I also agree that a lot of the top professional players and some whole teams are a disgrace in the way they behave on the pitch and can well believe that if they conducted themselves in a more gentlemanly manner things would improve at the lower levels. We just seem to accept this. When I compare the re-runs of The Big Match etc from the 1970s and 80s, there was nothing like this - the odd thug yes but pretty much complete respect for the referee.

[ArthurNohair]

I know a lad who’s played at academy level and his dad was a premiership referee. Should be a perfect grounding to start a refereeing career. He started out very enthusiastic with his dad watching him at his games as a ‘mentor’ but didn’t even end up lasting the full season due to abuse from the parents and coaches in the under 14s league.

No refs no footy. It’s as simple as that.

I’ve always respected rugby for the way they treat their referees with respect. It’s great to see a 5ft 6 rugby referee giving 2 7ft absolute monsters a dressing down!

[beddie]

I’ve mentioned previously that one of our family friends is now a Premier League referee. When he used to run the junior and local leagues in his area, even from the point of starting out at U/11s upwards before the kick off he would address the team, their Managers and especially the parents. He would explain to them why he was there and the benefit gained by the players by having such matches,it was only a short speech straight to the point that finished with abuse of any sort directed at anyone will not be tolerated and the game will be abandoned. It worked for him and the majority of parents were pleased with it. He says referring in the Premier League is a piece of -iss by comparison.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61425471

I like the description in the comments:

'Football a game for gentlemen played by hooligans - rugby a game for hooligans played by gentleman.'

I also agree that a lot of the top professional players and some whole teams are a disgrace in the way they behave on the pitch and can well believe that if they conducted themselves in a more gentlemanly manner things would improve at the lower levels. We just seem to accept this. When I compare the re-runs of The Big Match etc from the 1970s and 80s, there was nothing like this - the odd thug yes but pretty much complete respect for the referee.

Your last line sums it up for me. I was playing semi-pro then and went on to referee at that level and also at local league level from Under 11 to Under 18s and I and my colleagues never had any problems because there was respect shown and we got on with the job and enjoyed the game.
I think that, generally, there is much less repect shown by and to people these days and this obviously spreads to football and also other sports. Very sad situation.

[Stanbill05]

Annoyingly I can't remember who the player was now, (could have been Lineker actually!) but recently listened to an interview where the player's dad had literally dragged him off the pitch for giving the ref backchat when he was a kid. My lad has already been warned to expect the same.. unfortunately there are plenty of parents (and coaches) who don't get it. It's a problem that extends beyond the football pitch.