Hundreds of junior soccer matches have been cancelled in Dublin next weekend because referees are protesting against abuse and threatening behaviour from the sidelines.
A group of about 80 match officials on Monday made the decision to withdraw their services following incidents over the weekend.
Chief executive of the North Dublin Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League Tony Gains described some of the incidents:
“This weekend a female referee refereeing her first game of three games was abused so badly from the time she entered the pitch, she decided that she is not taking any more of this abuse from these people and she has now decided to give up refereeing entirely,” he said in online post.
“Another young referee who has only been refereeing for the past two months was petrified on the pitch, he was so afraid even to collect his gear. This abuse he took was absolutely disgraceful.”
Have you witnessed this kind of abuse at junior soccer matches in Ireland, or have you been subject to it as a referee of one of these games? If so, The Irish Times would like to hear from you.
We will publish a selection of your responses online (If you are reading this on the Irish Times app, click here to access the form for submissions).