Amateur sport faces rising violence against referees

Violence toward referees is pushing French amateur sport to combine prevention with tougher protection measures. Officials across football, basketball and other team sports face insults, threats and physical attacks. A young referee in Seine-et-Marne was struck in the face recently, while an Alsatian official required hospital treatment last year after suffering several facial fractures. Death threats in another case led district referees to strike, postponing 800 matches.

The danger is not limited to football. Loucas, a 22-year-old basketball referee, described being targeted during a high-stakes National 3 relegation derby two years ago. After his colleague was insulted and the coach was disqualified, the coach entered the court, threatened both officials and appeared ready to attack them. Loucas ran away at the end of the game. A survey found that 85% of respondents believe refereeing team sports has become more difficult, while pressure over results, parents, poor knowledge of the rules and wider social tensions are cited among the causes.

Prevention will feature during the Arbitration Days from October 6 to 15, including school sessions led by officials from football, handball, basketball and rugby. Stronger punishment is also gaining support: 76% consider it effective, and 84% say recognising referees helps protect sport. Football refereeing chief Antony Gautier has backed a zero-tolerance approach, including possible lifetime bans for licensed members who violently attack an official and cause an incapacity for work. In Savoie, white and blue cards, plus body cameras, are being tested to calm matches and improve referee security.