Violence has erupted in Scotland's youth football, with a team official headbutting another man at a match for five and six-year-olds and 72 red cards issued in one region in the first week of the season. Clubs have now been warned they will be banned if the violence continues.
Headbutt at Fun 4s game
At a “Fun 4s” game in the Central Scotland Football Association, between five and six-year-olds, a team official headbutted another man. Police are also investigating after hateful language was directed at a child.
In addition, 72 red cards were issued to players in one youth football region in the first week of the season.
Email details a 'new all time low'
An email sent by Paul Crosbie, League Secretary of the Central Scotland FA, detailed an appalling summary of violence by parents and coaches. Mr Crosbie advised that all Fun 4s matches may be cancelled next week to counter the madness that erupted in Week One during a tournament in Falkirk.
The email details a raft of disorder across the region, including matches abandoned due to team officials fighting with other officials, coaches threatening minors on the pitch, 72 sending-offs from last Saturday to Thursday nights midweek games, immediate bans and suspensions handed out for teams and individuals, discriminatory language being used by players against other players and by adults against minors, police investigating an alleged threat made and hate crime language used, teams playing ineligible suspended players, and an official on the touchline acting with no legally required PVGs.
Officials and ministers respond
In his email, seen by the Daily Record, Mr Crosbie hit out: “The new season has been back for 1 week, 7 days and already we have a long list of indiscipline and behaviours that have no place in grassroots football.
“Personally I thought I had seen and dealt with most things whilst being involved but yesterday hit a new all time low with what happened at Fun4’s as detailed below.
“At Fun4’s yesterday, 2020’s, 1st 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 5 & 6 yrs old.
“League official being approached in an aggressive / confrontational manner by a parent after being asked to move from an area in the stadium that parents should not be in, only players and registered, PVG’d team officials allowed on stadium pitch despite the regular reminders being sent out.”
Crosbie tells clubs that one coach admitted he did not have a PVG. He says that the Scottish Youth Football Compliance Officer will inform the Police over potential criminal matters surrounding PVG registration.
He adds: “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.”
Crosbie does not name the big club at the heart of the headbutting storm - which erupted at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld - but said its chief executive would be contacted.
When the Daily Record spoke to Paul Crosbie he stood by his "all time low" verdict. He said: "What I put in the email was the way I feel. I feel dismay that allegations like this are being brought forward and there is a case of a minority of parents spoiling it for the many people who come along and try to do things the right way."
He added: "We now have due processes that will kick in and we will be investigating the various situations that have come to light."
Calls for zero tolerance
One dad who called the Record said: “The email dropped on Sunday and it was a bit of a shocker but, on some way, no surprise.
“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 football grassroots scene if meant to be the first stage in Scotland producing world class players but at this rate we will be producing a generation of neds.”
The parent added: “I really feel sorry for the kids who have to witness this - the swearing and violence and even racism form the sidelines is just toxic.
“Sometimes you have to pinch yourself to believe that it’s really happening in this day and age.”
Scottish Sports Minister Maree Todd said: “It is unacceptable that any level of violence or aggression is displayed at football matches, but especially so in children’s and youth football.
“Those in positions of trust and authority, who behave in such a poor way, must realise that they are ‘normalising’ this kind of behaviour to our young people.
“Sport at a young age is about including and encouraging the players of tomorrow, and providing a safe space for them to play a sport they love.
“It is vital that children have positive role models who display good sportsmanship and discipline, not aggression and violence.”
Scottish Labour leadership hopeful Michael Marra - a self proclaimed Dundee United fanatic - said he was shocked at the state of the game for Scottish kids. He said: “This is horrifying. We need a zero tolerance approach to this. Kids should be able to play free from fear and intimation. As long as this behaviour goes on at parks across Scotland our national game will be a shadow of what it could be again - but the first priority must always be the safety of kids.”
Possible cancellation of Fun 4s matches
The SYFA’s Head of Operations and Board is now weighing up the potential cancelling of all next week’s Fun 4s matches. Its executive committee will review and make a decision “over the next 24/48 hours”.
Individuals and teams cited for major disciplinary breaches have been placed under immediate precautionary suspensions until discipline citations can be issued for discipline meetings. Fixtures will be suspended for some teams - meaning no football.
Crosbie adds: “The Exec & Discipline committee are going to be very busy over the next couple of weeks trying to sort through and action everything that has happened in the 1st week of the new season.
“From initial discussions with the rest of the committee, the line has well and truly been crossed on the back of the above noted behaviours, incidents, and conduct.”
The email was sent to every team manager in CSFA from Fun4’s up to U18’s. The CSFA provides grassroots football for thousands of children across over 100 member clubs. Kids range from five up to 19 across a wide geographical area, including Cumbernauld, Falkirk, Stirling, Airdrie, Alloa, Clyde, and Grangemouth.
