Shut up for kids' sake, you sideline shouters

By RAY WINSTONE

IT’S a reffing hard job taking control of a football match at any level – be it Premier League or Saturday morning kids’ footie.

Here actor Ray Winstone, the face of a new FA online ad to boost their Respect campaign for match officials, gives his take on a problem causing thousands of grassroots refs to quit the game – the raging dads who take the fun out of football.

I CAN remember the enjoyment I got from playing football on Hackney Marshes in east London on a Saturday as an 11-year-old kid.

But I can also still remember hearing dads, who thought they knew more about soccer than anyone else, screaming and shouting from the touchlines. I knew kids who were good players but just found something else to do with their lives because they were terrified of their mum and dad watching them play.

Any parent who has stood on a touchline will know what I’m talking about.

Saturday and Sunday morning football is ultimately about kids enjoying themselves, getting exercise and having something to do.

The majority of parents who turn up to watch are fine. But there is always one who spoils it for the kids and other parents.

Even if their child does show promise, bullying them from the touchline will only ruin their confidence in the future.

I feel sorry for the refs, too. They give up their Saturday and Sunday mornings to do this and all they get is a load of abuse.

We moan that there aren’t enough good refs coming into the game, but what do we expect if this is the treatment they get at grassroots level?

Professional refs are berated by commentators on the telly, which doesn’t set a good example and perhaps gives people the idea it is OK to mercilessly criticise.

I hope this FA campaign encourages people to take a moment to step back and take a look at their behaviour and show a bit of respect.

Football will die if we drive refs and youngsters out of the game. In the video I play a dad who thinks he knows everything about the game and takes it out on his own kid.

I was almost embarrassed acting it, screaming at the little kids in the film. I had to go to apologise afterwards! So I don’t know how people who do it for real don’t feel ashamed of themselves.

When a kid is eight, tactically he is not going to be aware of where he is supposed to be on the pitch.

There might be one genius who is, but other players aren’t. They are there to run around and pretend to be their hero for the day.

If there is some animal on the sidelines screaming, it ruins that special moment.

Football is our national sport and it’s a fantastic one, bringing together people of all classes and creeds.

And that is why we must all look after it. But making it better needs to start from the bottom.