The scourge of match official abuse
Club Respect’s podcast, Smart Plays, tackles the difficult social issues in sport and explores our capacity for positive social change. In this episode, we speak with Patrick Skene about the scourge of match official abuse, what sports codes are doing in Australia and the global movements pushing for respect.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Amazon | Others
Overview
The abuse of match officials continues to plague sport at all levels and every code.
It’s part of a deeply ingrained culture that is passed down from generation to generation. Kids are carelessly nurtured through years of observation, from having their parents lose the plot on the sidelines to spitting chips at the TV while watching their favourite team.
Over time, we may not realise, but we all have a choice:
- We can either go with the status quo, using our power to punch down on match officials and punch harder when they make a mistake. Or,
- We can acknowledge that match officials love the game as much as we do; they’re critical to everything running smoothly and, just like everyone else, make mistakes and learn from them.
So, what’s your choice?…
More info:
- Contact Patrick on X or LinkedIn
- Patrick is the Head Writer for Club Respect, with a huge focus on the topic of match official abuse.
- The ‘Sport at the Crossroads’ series, in particular, gives us a candid glimpse into the way different sports are dealing with the issue.
- Patrick’s article titled ‘Sport’s ugly blind spot – abuse of officials’ is still the most popular post on our website.
- Books by Patrick Skene