Assaults on referees

[Dave87]

I saw this article and though a few of you might like a read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22710511

ps. I'm all for it

 

[Mick.]

The junior minister said ""There are a range of offences which the police and CPS can use for violent incidents of any kind, including where the violence occurs in a sporting context, and there are severe maximum penalties available for those convicted." However, sentencing in this country is an absolute joke anyway. You only have to read the papers and wonder what you have to do to get a "severe maximum penalty". Whilst minor assaults (i.e. nothing more than a push) should, in my view, be dealt with at the lower level by the FA, more serious assaults should be investigated by the police and dealt with by the courts as if the offence happened outside of the football arena. But it does mean referees giving statements and attending court. This is something that, from experience, many people are reluctant to do as they do not have faith in the Criminal Justice system or they do not think that they should waste the police's time. It is not a waste of time! Moaning that Chardonnay called Shakira a slag on Faceache is wasting police time but they don't hesitate in calling them. Why should you hesitate if you have been genuinely assaulted, regardless of the location. Another Rant over!