Amateur rugby referees in Scotland are facing unprecedented levels of abuse, with incidents ranging from verbal attacks to death threats.
Players, coaches, and spectators have all been implicated in this alarming trend, which has driven some officials out of the sport entirely, according to Scotland Rugby News.
One of the most shocking cases involved a female spectator at an under-18 boys’ game, whose verbal abuse towards the referee resulted in an 11-week ban from attending matches. This punishment is notably harsher than any sanction given to players or coaches this season for similar offenses.
In another incident, a referee was threatened by a spectator who told them, “You should be shot for this performance, and I will make it happen.” Meanwhile, a Borders club faces a misconduct charge after a spectator on their clubhouse balcony shouted, “Ref, you’ll be lucky to leave here alive.”
While the Scottish Rugby Referees Association (SRRA) denies an increased turnover of officials, reports suggest at least four referees have resigned due to the personal abuse they have endured.
Official data reveals between 30 and 35 cases of referee abuse have been recorded annually over the past two seasons, though the actual numbers are believed to be higher.
This season, 17 players and two coaches have been disciplined for disrespecting or verbally abusing referees. The harshest player ban was eight weeks, while a coach received a nine-week suspension for similar misconduct.
It’s also believed that some referees feel the SRU’s disciplinary system is ineffective in addressing spectator abuse, discouraging formal reports.
Additionally, they argue the success of elite referees like Hollie Davidson, Sam Grove-White, and Mike Adamson has led to complacency, with insufficient effort put into developing the next generation of match officials at grassroots level.
