https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...-abandoned-sexist-abuse-referee-b2866148.html A non-league match was abandoned on Saturday afer both clubs alleged sexist abuse was aimed at a female referee. AFC Rushden & Diamonds said its game at Coventry Sphinx was cancelled at half-time after the comment was made, saying it would take “the strongest possible action” if the culprit was found to be connected to the club. A club statement read: “A comment of a sexist nature was allegedly directed toward the female match official towards the end of the first half. Attempts to identify the individual were unsuccessful. The Diamonds’ first-team manager Elliot Sandy told the club’s in-house media afterwards that the referee stopped the game for the individual to be removed. The match then resumed but at half-time the official told the team she did not feel comfortable continuing.
As a snap judgement, without knowing the facts, I'd say that one nasty comment should never stop a football match. I played Sunday League, as did many others, and some of the behaviour, language and insults were absolutely dreadful ... ... but no one ever wanted a game abandoned even after a mass brawl. If someone can't handle nasty comments they shouldn't be put in that position. I was a night club doorman, for 11 years, and called things that even made me cringe ... ... but I never asked for the concert to be stopped or even threw anyone out for it. Things are becoming a bit daft, sorry to anyone I've offended with my comments ... ... just please don't make any nasty comments in response.
It depends what was said. If it was just a comment or two, it seems like an overreaction. If it was a barrage of abuse throughout the first half, it's understandable.
“A comment of a sexist nature was allegedly directed toward the female match official towards the end of the first half." This suggests to me it was a single comment rather than a barrage.
Someone standing next to the wan ker mouthing off, should have just smacked him one... Self-policing is best
Whether it was sexist abuse toward a male or female ref they have the immediate sanction of issuing a red card. It shouldn't lead to abandonment because that indicates that the ref has lost control of the game and isn’t up to handling that level. Would she walk off the pitch if the crowd were singing 'the referee's a ****er! - after all, that's a comment of a sexual nature too! I suspect that most of us on here will be from the generation that, whatever was said to us, if we complained to our parents they would say 'sticks and stones...' and tell us to get on with it.
For me there is no place for it in the game. God knows what she has had to put up with to even get there. Cant play without a ref so hopefully there will be more respect next time.
I worked with 18 doormen and the banter towards each other was generally worse, towards ourselves, than we received from our clientele. We had a 'Brobbey', called Clyde, working with us who was exactly as you'd imagine. At the end of one night we were gradully moving everyone outside and he was becoming impatient with a straggler who was deliberately taking ages to finish his drink. Clyde leant on him, eased him out of the door and said, 'Get out of the club'. The lad shouted, 'Get back on your tyre swing!' We all, punters included, stood in stunned silence waiting for the horrific reaction ... ... he just slapped his thighs and let out a massive 'Lenny Henry' style Jamaican laugh. We laughed, all the punters laughed and, eventually the lad laughed, walked forwards, shook Clyde's hand and apologised. No idea if that story has any relevance, just a memory from back in the day.
Male referees have had stick for 150 years , just cancel football. That’ll teach the sexualising bastard twat ****s.
To be fair, and non-sexist, I checked the records for the time of the month when this last occurred. (Massive wink Becs, Bucky, etc.) I went back as far as 1863 but there's no real consensus tbh. We're currently in the phase of a waning moon, but having checked detailed lunar activity, I can find no relevant statistics. After checking football records, Home Office statistics about sexism and the effects of alcohol on the brains of football supporters ... ... I've concluded this is just one idiot being a dick and could've been resolved with a short sharp clout. However, I'll await the subsequent league enquiry, court case and and tribunal before deciding whether the enormous cost was worthwhile.
