Next week the film In The Middle opens, exposing the reality of refereeing grassroots football matches. Dave Bradshaw already knows all about it, having done the job for 29 seasons. But in October a brutal attack by a player left the 50 year-old questioning why violence on the pitch is getting “out of hand”. He tells Nick Duerden why something needs to be done before it’s too late.
Getting attacked while refereeing a match, I tell you, it’s left a very bitter taste in my mouth. Why is there so much abuse in football, but in no other sport? That’s the million-dollar question, that is.
I was refereeing a game in October, Platt Bridge FC versus Wigan Rose, amateur league, and I sent a Platt Bridge player off in the second half for quite a bad challenge, actually a very bad challenge.
Couple of minutes later, the away team scored the winning goal, and this player I’d sent off – he’d been stood on the sidelines – he chucked the ball in someone’s face, so I gave him another red card.
He ran towards me, I turned to one side, and then I felt this almighty thud in my face. No idea what’d happened, woke up a couple of minutes later, dazed. Found out later he’d given me a scissor kick, and that I’d fell over unconscious.
Went to hospital with a double dislocation of my shoulder, and I’ve now got this lump there that’ll be with me for the rest of my life. Had concussion, whiplash, cracked ribs, a broken nose.
I was back reffing two weeks later, probably too early, but what can you do? I hope I’m wrong, but I think someone will end up dead from this job one day, I really do.
I’ve been refereeing for 29 seasons now; before then, I was a semi-pro goalkeeper. I’m the most decorated referee in Wigan, and the only rugby league and football referee in the country.
People think it’s my full-time job, but it’s not; I’m a civil servant by day. But I do about six jobs per weekend, and can make over £300 a week doing this, easily. I do morning games, afternoon games, men’s games, women’s games. I’m very reliable, and I’m very passionate, love it. Keeps me fit, although at 50 I can’t quite run the way I used to 20 years ago. The knees are going a bit.
During my time, I’ve seen the abuse at football just get worse and worse. Why? Watch any football game on TV, and you’ll see the abuse the players give the ref. Because it’s the national sport, and everyone watches it, everyone thinks that the abuse is acceptable. They accept that the players can’t rein in their emotions, and they accept that they rant and rave around the referee after the ref has made a decision. Why doesn’t anyone just accept that he has a job to do?
Do we make mistakes? Look, in the amateur game, the referee also gives offsides – there’s no linesmen – so I can be 30 metres behind the play, and I have to make a judgement call. Whenever I give offside, whether I’ve made a mistake or not – and I like to think I don’t, mostly – players give me grief, every single time.
This doesn’t happen in rugby, it doesn’t happen in cricket. It doesn’t happen in the women’s game, either. When I ref women’s football, I might get the odd comment, but they apologise afterwards. It’s a male thing, and it’s really getting out of hand.
Also, it doesn’t make any sense. You’ve already given the decision. I’ve never known a ref to back down just because some player is calling them an effing bastard, or whatever. I’m not going to put my card away just because you’re shouting at me, am I? I’m not going to say: “Oh, sorry, I’ve changed my mind.” Why don’t they just accept the decision? I want to say to them: “If you think it’s easy to be a referee, you try it.”
The attack’s left me feeling really paranoid. I’ve got cameras outside my flat, watching the front door, the back door, everywhere. It’s not good for my mental health.
They’re going to fit body cams on referees next year, did you know that? It’s unfortunate, but it’s needed. I just wish that someone, the FA, would do something about it, but that’s not the British mentality, is it?
Why not fix this problem now before something goes horribly wrong? Why not fix it now before it’s too late, before somebody dies?
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/7AHhuQI
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