Column: Time to give all bully boys the red card

Full marks to the referees in the North Dublin Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League who took the bold decision some weeks ago to down tools.

They decided not to take charge of games because of the increase in threatening behaviour shown to them - and they were right. Up to 550 games in the league couldn't go ahead that weekend because the match officials said they had enough.

It was a powerful statement and was obviously some time in the pipeline. Referees don't usually take such action unless they feel they have no other alternative. They clearly felt this is now time to do something about what is a real problem. They clearly have had enough.

It's time to deal with the bullies that are all too prevalent these days in our sporting arenas. They can be found on the pitches - and on the sidelines.

There are the players who will snarl and snap constantly at the referees, sometimes using unacceptable language. There are also the managers, coaches and spectators who will hurl abuse at match officials and even opposition players. There are also the parents at under-age games who will roar at even their own youngsters, criticising them, undermining and embarrassing them.

Recently I even read of a incident in Argentina when a player who was sent off went to his bag, took out a gun, returned, and shot the referee, who subsequently died.

Referees are truly admirable folk - and I'm constantly amazed why they do what they do, especially in soccer where this culture of snarling and snapping and sometimes cursing the referee is an integral part of the game.

Of course GAA match officials have to take their fair share of abuse as well but for some reason it has become ingrained in the soccer culture. Partly, no doubt, because young players see their heroes on TV 'having a go' at referees when some decision or other goes against them.

It used to be common at the top level, big club and international games - and while the authorities have stamped down on such behaviour in more recent times, it still goes on. What the stars do, some performing in public parks will replicate.

In early October the Meath Chronicle carried a story of how the Louth Branch of the Irish Soccer Referees' Society (ISRS) had issued a statement referring to the difficulties encountered by it's members officiating at games including those in the North East Football League (NEFL).

The Louth Branch opted to adopt a "zero tolerance" stance towards abuse. Effectively what this means is that a referee, once he or she hears verbal abuse directed towards them they will simply, as a spokesman put it, "pick up the ball and walk, abandon the game at the first sign of verbal or other abuse in a game."

As an indication of just how bad things have become, some members won't take charge of games on certain days because they know "serial offenders" will be playing that day.

The officials also clearly feel not enough is being done by those who govern the game to stamp out abuse. "The lack of appropriate sanctions is allowing such serial offenders to continue to attend and operate in an official capacity," the spokesman added.

The Louth referees suggested there should be clearly marked areas for coaches and officials. They also want supporters to be at least two metres back from the pitch, behind a rope, a fence or a marked line of a different colour. We'll see what happens but it's unlikely to halt the trend.

It's time. Time to stamp out abuse. No match official should go to a game and be called names or worse, physically attacked, as has happened.

The soccer authorities should be praised for introducing their 'Respect for All' programme some years ago but clearly, especially at grassroots level, there is still some way to go to get to where we need to be.