Youth football bosses have cancelled matches for five and six-year-old players this weekend following a surge in violent behaviour by adults on the sidelines.
The Central Scotland Football Association (CSFA) has suspended its Fun 4s programme for the coming weekend after a series of incidents, including a team official headbutting another man at a game at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Police are also investigating after hateful language was directed at a child.
72 red cards in first week
The Daily Record reported on the shameful start to the season, which also saw 72 red cards issued to players in one youth football region in the first week. The Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA), 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.
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.”
750 children affected
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 clearance to illegally take teams without proper PVG disclosures.
The Daily Record’s earlier story detailed a warning issued to parents and club officials after an “all time low” in thuggery and violence at the start of the new season for the CSFA, which covers a large area including Stirling, Falkirk and Cumbernauld.
Officials and whistleblowers speak out
All teams involved in the CSFA leagues were contacted by its secretary Paul Crosbie 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.”
Crosbie added: “At Fun 4s yesterday, 2020s, first year of playing organised football, a team official has headbutted another team official which was witnessed by other team officials and kids who will be five and six years old.”
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 whistleblower added: “I really feel sorry for the kids who have to witness this - the swearing and violence and even racism from the sidelines is just toxic.”
Scotland’s sports minister Maree Todd has urged Police Scotland and football’s governing bodies to tackle disorder at kids matches. The CSFA runs games from Fun 4s up to under-18s.
