Youth football’s new season in Scotland has erupted into violence, vandalism and red cards, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
One teenage player was taken to hospital with a head injury following a post-match brawl involving coaches and young footballers while another game was abandoned after a touchline spat between a youngster and a spectator.
In other incidents in the Central Scotland league, dressing rooms were trashed and refs and children threatened, there was an alleged sex assault and a record 58 players sent off.
Horrified league chiefs have acted swiftly and expelled one club with more put on notice that they could be next.
An email from Central Scotland League (CSFA) secretary Paul Crosbie to hundreds of clubs said: “There are teams who have players, officials and spectators who do not want to behave in the correct manner for children’s/ youth football.
“In the first week back of the new season which is only 10 days old across different age groups we have had multiple reports and complaints.
“[There were] 58 sending offs, [the] highest number ever for 1st week back; games abandoned; referees being verbally abused and physically threatened, referees being approached and challenged by parents in car parks.
“Spectators wanting to go fighting with coaches in front of minors; coaches and spectators making unacceptable comments to players on the park.
“Mass melees on [the] park with police and an ambulance being called; claim of sexual assault by one player to another on the pitch; alleged damage to changing rooms.
“Once all of the reports and complaints have been looked into and actioned, there may be further teams who may have their fixtures removed and membership revoked.
“The committee are unanimous, action is required so that the majority of teams can look forward to and turn up for their game of football on a Saturday in a safe, enjoyable environment whether it is development level football for children’s age groups or competitive football for the youth age groups.”
The Scottish Football Association has now vowed to take action and tackle the problem at their next top level board meeting.
We told last week how referees are weighing up strike action after an official was allegedly headbutted and punched during a recent an amateur game in Renfrew.
But the crisis in grass-roots football could engulf the kids game with claims of rogue coaches and rowdy parents inflaming sidelines.
The beginning of the carnage unfolded during the first rounds of fixtures in the Central Scotland league which kicked off on August 17.
It operates from Glasgow and Lanarkshire to Stirling and West Lothian, with hundreds of teams playing in age groups from under-7s to under-18s.
The worst incident saw an under-16s game between Bo’ness United and West Park United, from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, explode into violence on August 24.
Witnesses said a row between coaches at full-time escalated into a mass brawl involving players , with cans of juice being flung as missiles.
Police and an ambulance were summoned after a Bo’ness player received a head injury. It’s believed he was treated in hospital but released soon after.
Another under-16s match between Falkirk side Gairdoch United and Easterhouse from Glasgow was abandoned.
A player receiving treatment on the touchline was accused of feigning injury and the ref halted the game when the boy and an adult spectator squared up and began shoving each other.
Meanwhile, a changing room at Stenhousemuir’s Ochilview ground was allegedly damaged by an under-17s player from Hamilton-based Mill United who had been sent off.
Alastair Blair, director of operations for the Scottish Football Supporters’ Association – which runs a campaign to attract new young referees – said: “We know this is not just a football problem, it’s a societal problem.
“But the lack of respect and restraint on the sidelines of grass-roots games is on a different planet to other sports.
“We want the SFA to confront the issue and fast and we will support them in that. How they deal with it will have a major effect on the future of football in Scotland. We mustn’t kid ourselves on that the game is invincible.
“These incidents have always gone on but children used to play football because there was nothing else to do.
“These days, if they don’t enjoy it because it’s an unsafe and frightening experience, they will go and do something else.
“A shrinking talent pool of players and referees will cause long-term serious damage to our national game.”
One referee – who spoke to the Sunday Mail on condition of anonymity – said: “Most trouble begins on the sidelines, not on the pitch.
“Every game starts out with a decent atmosphere but then the parents start shouting about fouls and decisions and the coaches start losing the plot.
“Suddenly you find every single thing is being argued over and then all that aggression gets into the players.
“By the end of the game – if you get that far – it can be seriously hostile. The vast majority just want to play football, but they’re not being allowed to.
“Quite often, it’s actually the kids telling the adults to shut up and calm down.
“But they’re competitive teenagers and they’re being thrust into horrible, poisonous situations. It’s no wonder many of them can’t handle it and end up getting sent off.
“Scotland spends so much time talking about how we develop young footballers. It needs to start with the grass roots and getting the bams away from the side of the park.”
Police Scotland confirmed they were called to the Bo’ness incident.
A spokesman said: “We received a report of a disturbance in the Dean Road area of Bo’ness on Saturday 24 August. A 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital for treatment.
“A 15-year-old was charged in connection with an assault. A report was submitted to the relevant authorities.”
Earlier this year, a man was charged with three assaults after an under-13s game in Aberdeen ended with a another man knocked unconscious.
An SFA spokesman said: “The power of football inspires the nation and transforms lives, and anyone taking part should expect a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment.
“We are encouraged by the proactive response of the CSFA in dealing with these alarming incidents and will ensure the issue is on the agenda at the next scheduled meeting of the Non-Professional Game Board.
“Our Grassroots Player App outlines the culture and behaviours we expect, and while the [Scottish Youth Football Association] will deal with matters under their jurisdiction, the SFA also has a code of conduct for its Quality Mark clubs, failure to adhere to which can result in disciplinary action.”
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