TREATMENT of match officials has once again been thrust into the national spotlight, following the unsavoury sideline behaviour of Jürgen Klopp in Sunday’s match with Manchester City.
The Liverpool boss is not the first and will not be the last to be disciplined for abuse of referees, but its presence on the national stage ‘will always be of concern’, according to an experienced Island official.
Paul Kemp has been a qualified football official for 18 years, and now serves as the JFA’s Referee Development Officer.
The Island has seen an uptick in the number of local officials over recent years, a trend Kemp attributes to the warmer environment of JFA Combination football.
‘We can’t help but be concerned when we have instances of official abuse on the biggest stage,’ said Kemp.
‘It will always be a worry that exposure to unacceptable behaviour will bleed through into the local game.
‘With that being said, I have been very impressed with the treatment of local referees by coaches and players alike, which is vital if we want to retain the large numbers we currently have.’
The JFA now boast a number of junior referees, which has proved vital to cater for the number of combination matches that take place.
Football on the Island has arguably never been stronger, with a growing number of participants among the junior and women’s games.
Kemp said: ‘I think the vast majority of parties involved in Combination football realise how important referees are.
‘Ironically, the few that do display poor behaviour towards our officials are the first to ask why their game is unable to proceed, when people refuse to put up with it.
‘We have seen more and more people put their foot down when they see abuse, including coaches putting parents right when they get overly vocal during junior matches.’
Part of Kemp’s role within the JFA has been focused on recruiting new officials and developing their skills.
A number of Islanders have been provided with access to refereeing courses, aimed to assist in their progression through the levels.
‘I think if people took a step back and realised how daunting it is for a 15-year-old kid to step into an arena with 22 players and 100 spectators, they might have more of an appreciation for what they do.
‘As referees, we have a very tight-knit community over here and the support we have received from everyone in charge at the JFA has been incredible.
‘To have so many youngsters involved and taking charge of weekend matches is brilliant and our goal is to ensure they are supported adequately and want to be involved.
‘As it stands, Jersey appears to be somewhat protected as an Island from the regular mistreatment of match officials on the mainland and it’s my hope that we can continue to provide a welcoming attitude to those involved and encourage anyone interested to get involved.’
