Sport

Ref abuse driving officials away from grassroots football, warns experienced referee

Published

2 months ago

March 25, 2026

Concerns grow over behaviour on sidelines as officials say abuse is becoming “normalised”

A GRASSROOTS football referee has warned that persistent abuse from players, coaches and spectators is driving officials away from the game.

Marty Jones, who says he has spent more than thirty years involved in grassroots football and has refereed more than 500 matches as a Football Association of Wales official, has spoken out about what he describes as a growing culture of hostility towards referees.

In a strongly worded post shared online, he said the level of abuse directed at match officials has become relentless.

“When did we decide that abusing the referee is just part of the game?” he asked.

“I stand on sidelines now and it’s relentless. From kick-off to full-time, it’s a constant stream of nonsense.”

Mr Jones, who has officiated youth matches, friendlies and pre-season games — often without charging a fee — said referees are frequently blamed for incidents beyond their control, from missed penalties to fights between players.

“Why is the one neutral person on that pitch, the one without any teammates, the one who’s given up their afternoon for the love of the game, the target for everyone’s frustrations?” he said.

He described the behaviour as “bullying” and “harassment”, adding that standards of basic respect appear to have eroded.

“It’s grown adults spending ninety minutes having a go at someone who’s just trying to let a game of football happen,” he said.

The referee also highlighted concerns about the impact on children’s football, claiming some coaches have ruined matches by constantly arguing with officials from the sidelines.

“I’ve seen coaches ruin kids’ matches because they can’t stop moaning at the ref,” he said.

“I’ve seen grown men with responsible jobs get sent off for hurling abuse at officials. I’ve even seen physical abuse aimed at referees.”

Mr Jones warned that the long-term consequences could be serious for the sport at a local level.

“Referees are quitting in droves,” he said. “Every week, good officials walk away because they’re sick of being treated badly.”

“When they go, games don’t happen fairly, kids don’t get to play, grassroots football suffers — not because of refs, but because of behaviour we’ve all just somehow accepted.”

Campaigns such as “Respect the Ref” and “No Ref, No Game” have long been promoted across Welsh football, but Mr Jones questioned whether those messages are being taken seriously.

“Because if we did mean it, we wouldn’t tolerate behaviour that would get you thrown out of any other setting,” he said.

He urged supporters to reflect on their behaviour and focus on encouraging players rather than targeting officials.

“Go along, enjoy the game, cheer your team, encourage the players, make it a place people actually want to be,” he said.

“But if you’re just there to give the referee grief for ninety minutes, honestly, just stay home.”

The Herald understands that concerns about referee retention and behaviour at grassroots level have been raised more widely across Wales, with officials warning that recruitment and retention could become increasingly difficult if standards do not improve.

The Football Association of Wales has been approached for comment.

Sport

Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club to hold next time trial event

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Herald Sport

MEMBERS of Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club are being encouraged to take part in the club’s next Time Trial Series event.

The 20km bike time trial will take place at Herbrandston, next to the old school, on Sunday, May 17, starting at 8:15am.

The club says the event is open to members of all abilities, whether they are chasing a personal best, building confidence, or simply looking to take part in a friendly club event.

Those wishing to enter are asked to book their place through the Connect My Club app.

Parking at the start is limited, so members are being encouraged to car share where possible or allow extra time before the event.

Sport

S4C secures exclusive Barbarians v Wales double-header

Published

8 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Herald Sport

S4C will broadcast a live rugby double-header from Twickenham this summer, with Wales taking on the Barbarians in both men’s and women’s fixtures.

The matches will be shown live and exclusively on Friday, June 27, with the men’s game kicking off at 2:00pm and the women’s match following at 5:00pm.

Both fixtures will be available across S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and S4C Chwaraeon’s YouTube channel, with Welsh and English-language commentary.

Sarra Elgan will present the coverage, with Lauren Salter reporting pitchside.

Gareth Charles will commentate on the men’s match, with analysis from Ken Owens and Elinor Snowsill. Siwan Lillicrap will also join the team for the women’s fixture, with further members of the broadcast line-up to be announced.

Tomos Grace, WRU Chief Commercial Officer said: “We’re delighted that S4C will bring coverage of Barbarians v Wales at Twickenham to supporters across the country and beyond.

“This fixture is always a celebration of rugby’s spirit and tradition, and it’s fantastic that fans will be able to enjoy it free-to-air, with comprehensive Welsh-language coverage at its heart alongside English provision, which is hugely important for the game in Wales.

“We look forward to what promises to be a memorable summer occasion for Welsh rugby.”

Sue Butler, Head of Sports at S4C, said the broadcaster was pleased to have secured exclusive rights to the event.

She said: “We are delighted to have secured the exclusive broadcast rights to this double-header, bringing Wales together with the Barbarians for a special day of summer rugby.

“These fixtures promise a great Wales day out, and we’re pleased that S4C’s coverage will be available across all platforms.

“This agreement underlines S4C’s commitment to delivering premium live sport exclusively to audiences across Wales and the UK, in both Welsh and English, and to showcasing the very best of international rugby on a global stage.”

John Spencer, President of Barbarian F.C., said: “Barbarian F.C. and Wales have an intertwined history, with supporters of both teams enjoying the spirit and values of the game.

“This summer’s double-header against Wales is a hugely exciting fixture and the announcement that the matches will be on S4C, on free-to-air TV, broadcast by a national broadcaster, with huge rugby experience, is really important.

“We want to showcase the very best of rugby and having the fixtures on S4C will allow us to reach a large audience for what will be a great day of rugby.”

Fans will also be able to attend the double-header at Twickenham, with tickets available through Ticketmaster and England Rugby.

The coverage will be produced by Whisper Cymru.

Sport

Merlins Bridge U14s girls celebrate league title success

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2026

Herald Sport

YOUNG footballers from across Pembrokeshire are celebrating after Merlins Bridge U14s Girls secured the league title in the West Wales Women and Girls League.

The team confirmed their place at the top of the table after an away victory against Carmarthen Stars, capping a memorable season for the squad.

Title-winning season

The achievement follows the club’s decision to enter the West Wales Women and Girls League at U14 level, giving the players the chance to test themselves against teams from across the region.

Coach Jan Bojanowski said the success was a proud moment for the players, families and club.

The squad is made up of girls from across Pembrokeshire, who have shown commitment throughout the season and continued to develop as a team.

Growing girls’ football

Merlins Bridge AFC said the title win reflects the strength of girls’ football in Pembrokeshire and the increasing opportunities now available for young female players.

The team’s success is also a boost for grassroots football locally, with more girls taking part and representing their clubs in competitive leagues across West Wales.

The players celebrated with trophies and the league cup after completing their title-winning campaign.