CONCERNS over increasing instances of abuse towards referees in the Furness Premier League have once again been highlighted by competition officials ahead of tomorrow's round of fixtures.

The FPL is already faced with a shortage of qualified match officials, which means several games each weekend have no registered referee in charge, and that situation has been exacerbated by two more hanging up their whistles in the past month due to the bad behaviour they regularly encountered.

League appointments officer Bob Davies believes much of the problems with getting enough coverage stem from players continually questioning and haranguing referees during games, and is in no doubt it has become worse since the 2016/17 season kicked off.

“Every week, teams are having to play matches without referees, but I think that situation has arisen due to the abuse and the hard work they are making the job,” said Davies.

“Lads go into refereeing to enjoy it and it's becoming, with some clubs and some games, not an enjoyable experience for them. We've lost lads and as quick as I've been able to replace, we tend to lose others.

“It just seems to be that players seem to think they have a right to question every decision and that's what wears people down. But you could put 10 people in a room and all watch the same game, and you'd get four or five different opinions over a similar incident.

“It's the manner in some case in which they question; they're almost aggressive in the manner they go at the referee screaming and shouting, and the histrionics - and then it's the remarks as well.”

The situation has become so grave that the remaining referees are considering a possible strike one to get their point across – and they would have the support of the FPL should they decide to take such action.

That remains a last-resort option though, with an alternative being to call off one weekend's round of fixtures and hold a meeting for players and coaches with the Lancashire FA's referee officer, as happened two years ago.

Both Davies and FPL chairman Barbara Knagg felt, in that instance, it proved productive and led to an improvement in behaviour standards.

And while she is appalled by the situations which have arisen in the opening months of this season, Knagg is urging the league' referees to play their part in clamping down on such incidents by cautioning and dismissing players if needed.

“The problem is, it's the players we need to reach and it's difficult to have somewhere where we could reach them because you couldn't get a venue big enough unless we did it over a period of time,” said Knagg.

“I've actually been to clubs when we've had a problem, and I've stood on the pitch with players before the game and just gone through what has gone on, and said it's not acceptable. It last for so long, but then it flares up again.

“The referees are talking of boycotting games and if that's what they've got to do to get their point over, I fully support them, but they've also got to do their part and not let them be bullied.

“They've got to report incidents to the county association and not think that's what they have to put up with - they don't have to put up with it.”

Davies agrees that both parties have a responsibility and is encouraging his officials to take whatever action they feel is necessary within the Laws of the Game.

“It's within the referees' power to deal with those situations,” said Davies. “They can caution, they can send off - I don't want to say that's what they've got to do, but if a referee thinks a player has gone over the top in their reaction, he can deal with it and I think they should deal with it on the pitch.

“I just sometimes wish they would be a bit stronger and not think they've had enough and pack it in, but something has to be done and clubs have to be aware.”

The problem is not just with current referees calling it a day because of abuse, but also that a number of them on the FPL list are approaching the age where they might be thinking about giving up as well.

That is made worse by the fact there are very few – if any – younger referees coming through, although Davies is more than willing to help anyone who has an interest in officiating get on a course and be appointed to FPL matches.

“Without the referees, we don't have a game,” said Davies, who still officiates as well. “I'm not saying they're the be-all-and-end-all, because I played football, I've run teams and I'm still involved in a club locally, so I've seen it from both sides.

“But if we haven't got referees, we haven't got a game, or the games go ahead without them and there's all sorts happening, and that's what I'm afraid is happening now.”