Youth football matches for five and six-year-old players in Scotland have been cancelled this weekend after a surge in violent behaviour by adults on the sidelines. The Central Scotland Football Association (CSFA) has suspended its Fun 4s programme following incidents including a team official headbutting another man at a game at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld.
Incidents prompt suspension
Police are investigating after hateful language was directed at a child. Additionally, 72 red cards were issued to players in one youth football region in the first week of the season.
The Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA), which is governed by the SFA, initially remained silent on the scandal but has now issued a statement confirming disciplinary proceedings will be launched against various adults.
SYFA statement and bans
An SYFA spokesperson said the decision to stop the matches was a “difficult” one. The spokesperson said: “The Central Scotland Football Association is preparing to initiate disciplinary proceedings against those involved and has made the difficult decision to suspend its Fun 4's programme for the coming weekend. Everyone in and around youth football has a responsibility to set the highest standards of behaviour for our young players.”
Around 750 children will not play football this weekend due to the poor behaviour. Immediate bans and suspensions have been handed out for some of the worst disciplinary breaches, including teams allowing dads without PVG clearance to illegally take teams without proper disclosures.
Official warns of all-time low
CSFA secretary Paul Crosbie contacted all teams involved in the leagues on Sunday. He said: “Personally I thought I had seen and dealt with most things whilst being involved but yesterday (Saturday) hit a new all-time low with what happened at Fun 4s as detailed below.”
He described the headbutt at a Fun 4s game and a league official being approached in an aggressive manner by a parent. He added: “Apologies for sending to all as the majority of teams conduct themselves and go about their business as expected for grassroots football but it is important that all teams are made aware of the items that are happening at children's/youth games of football.”
Wider response
Scotland's sports minister Maree Todd urged Police Scotland and football's governing bodies to tackle disorder at kids' matches. A whistleblower who contacted the Record said: “For some reason Fun 4s football is the absolute Wild West, with violent men behaving in a way that sets a terrible example to kids.”
The CSFA runs games that include Fun 4s up to under-18s. The suspension affects the coming weekend's matches, with disciplinary actions already underway.
