THERE has been a large rise in assaults on referees during small-sided football matches this season.

During the Hampshire FA's 2005/06 season - which ran from July 1 2005 to June 30 2006 - there were 17 assaults during five or six a side games out of an overall total of 68 assaults.

This season, though, 10 of the 23 assaults have been recorded in small-sided games.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo show there have been 191 assaults on match officials across the Hampshire FA area since July 2003.

In addition, 232 matches have been abandoned for disciplinary reasons.

The worst season for abandonments was 2004/05 with 78 - nine more than in 2003/04 and 2005/06.

Before this season, the assaults on referees in small sided games had remained remarkably similar - despite the explosion in popularity of the game in recent seasons.

There were 16 assaults out of a total of 59 in 2003/04 and 16 out of a total of 41 in 2003/04.

The amount of small sided football in the Southampton area continues to grow.

This season Soccer Clubs, Football Mundial, Goals (Millbrook), Pitch Invasion, Game On Sports and JD Fives are all running leagues. Games are played every day of the week except for Saturdays.

The amount of assaults on referees outside the small-sided football spectrum rose from 25 in 2004/05 to 51 last season.

It is with that in mind that the Daily Echo has relaunched our Respect the Ref campaign we initially started 12 months ago.

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