Referee Abuse & Reporting v2
Your voice matters. We want to hear from you.
Every referee deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported while serving the game.
If a player, coach, team official, parent, spectator, or anyone else crossed the line, please tell us what happened.
You do not need to decide whether an incident technically qualifies as abuse or know which policy applies. Tell us what happened. We will listen.
You can make a mistake on the field and still deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Disagreement with a decision never gives anyone permission to threaten, intimidate, demean, harass, discriminate against, or physically confront a referee.
You Are Not Alone
If an interaction left you feeling threatened, intimidated, targeted, unsafe, or concerned about returning to the field, we want to know about it.
This can include, but not limited to:
- Verbal abuse, harassment, or intimidation
- Threats or discriminatory comments
- Cyberbullying or harassment after a match
- Unwanted physical contact or violence
- Retaliation
- Conduct related to your role as a referee before, during, or after a match
If you are unsure whether what happened qualifies, report it anyway.
Respect the Call
U.S. Soccer’s Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (Policy 531-9) protects referees from both physical and non-physical abuse and establishes minimum penalties for misconduct.
Referees under 18 receive additional protections.
U.S. Soccer provides increased penalties for certain offenses committed by an adult against a minor referee.
Abusing a referee is unacceptable. Abusing a child serving as a referee is especially serious.
View U.S. Soccer’s Referee Abuse Prevention Policy →
View Referee Abuse Resources & Materials →
What Happens When You Report?
1. Tell us what happened.
Provide as much information as you are comfortable sharing.
2. We review it.
We will review the incident and determine the appropriate next steps.
3. We will follow up — if you want us to.
If you provide contact information, a member of the Alabama Referee Program will reach out to make sure you feel heard and supported.
You may also report anonymously. Anonymous reports will still be reviewed, although our ability to follow up may be limited.
4. We help direct it appropriately.
When necessary, the matter may be referred to the appropriate league, competition, club, state association, U.S. Soccer, SafeSport, or other authority.
Reports will be handled as carefully and discreetly as reasonably possible.
We’re Here to Listen.
You do not need to prove that something happened before speaking up.
You do not need to worry that your decisions during the match somehow justified someone else’s behavior.
And if you are concerned about retaliation because you reported an incident, tell us that too.
Please tell us what happened.
You may identify yourself and request a follow-up, or you may submit your report anonymously.
It’s time to be heard.
Email us at ab***@**********ef.com
