'Abuse rises' at children's games

League officials are planning a meeting to address the problem

Children's football matches are being spoiled by bad behaviour from coaches, parents and players, it is claimed.

Cardiff and District League secretary Robin Davies said there had even been racial abuse allegations involving children this season.

League officials are looking at calling a meeting of all the clubs.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said it was very concerned about poor behaviour, but it was a wider problem for society than just for the sport.

Cardiff and District Association Football League features some 3,800 children from under-eight to under-16 level, and about 1,000 adult players.

I've been here since 1982 and we didn't have these problems then Robin Davies, Cardiff and District League

Mr Davies described behaviour as probably the worst he had ever known and said: "We've got an ongoing problem with the attitude of parents and the attitude of managers, which rubs off on the kids.

"We've never had racial abuse before and we've had two allegations this year. We've been getting friction between coaches.

"We've got a league management meeting (Tuesday) and we will have a chat about it and see what we're going to do and where we're going to go."

AN OFFICIAL'S STORY One Cardiff club's secretary, who did not want to be identified, said one of his coaches tried to speak to the other team's coach about some of their tackles. "The other coach got his hair off and shoved him in the chest for no reason. "When he was shoved, one of their club's parents came over rapidly across the pitch shouting 'I'll knock your effing head off'. "Not happy saying it once, he came charging up and said it again within full earshot of the kids and the parents. It shouldn't have happened." "I think [problems] are becoming more prevalent this season. "I've noticed the atmosphere deteriorate over the last 12 to 18 months. "Some coaches seem to think that winning is all that matters."

He said one option was to call a meeting of all the clubs to try to encourage an improvement in behaviour.

Other incidents included parents verbally abusing referees and parents making "unacceptable" comments to children while they were playing.

Mr Davies said although such incidents tended to be "isolated", he had noticed more problems creeping into the game.

"Gradually, it [behaviour] has been deteriorating over the years. I've been here since 1982 and we didn't have these problems then," he said.

"I don't know whether it's society in general which is causing the problems.

"We've had incidents over the last two years at all the age groups."

He added: "Where possible, the league will take sanctions. Anything that's proved, individuals will see themselves removed."

He added that team websites could also be a source of trouble, with coaches making inappropriate comments on them.

"Websites are a dangerous tool. Comments can turn up on there which can be objectionable," he said.

"A lot of it is running down referees or sometimes hyping kids up for the next match in an unacceptable way."

Protect them

A Football Association of Wales (FAW) spokesperson said it was very concerned about poor behaviour at football matches, whether it was coaches, players or parents.

The FAW said: "It's a wider problem, it's not just a football issue - it's a society problem," he said.

"People seem to think they can sound off to whoever they want to. We would take a very dim view of that."

He said referees, particularly, should not have to tolerate abuse and the FAW would always strive to protect them.

Arthur Smith, general secretary of the Referees' Association, said: "I don't think it's any worse than it has been over the years. It's one of those problems we have where parents tend to think they've got the boots on, not the children.

"Unfortunately we lose a lot of young referees because of the abuse they get from parents on the touchlines."

Sandra Hiller, Parentline Plus spokesperson, said the issue was a "concern".

"If children see problems solved with raised voices or fists, they learn to follow suit," she said.

"If you want to stop a child being violent, you may first have to address what is happening around them."