THE battle to clean up the grass-roots game is slowly being won – with the help of initiatives like the Daily Echo Respect the Ref campaign.
The latest statistics from the Hampshire FA, covering the period from the start of the season to middle of January, reveal that assaults on match officials have dropped by 44 per cent since 2005/06, the season the campaign was introduced.
The only statistic that has increased since the 05/06 season is the number of small-sided matches abandoned, though that was by just one – from five up to six – and more games are being played now than three years ago.
Hampshire FA chief executive Neil Cassar said: “Our records show a clear decline in the number of serious cases reported to the County FA following misconduct at football matches.
“This is largely down to a number of key initiatives aimed at eliminating poor behaviour on the local parks following the launch of the well publicised Respect programme and partnerships with organisations such as the Daily Echo with the Respect the Ref campaign.”
For full story see today's Daily Echo.
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