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Respect !
Yes all levels of abuse are wrong, but they are not comparable.
Comparing a volunteer 14 year old being sworn at to a well paid adult feels some what strange and was not the point the article was making.
If we lose refs at a volunteer level after 3 or 4 games due to abusive language, those kids can't play and the game has no chance.
The article was not about the odd parent shouting come on its off side. It was about threatening and abusing behaviour towards minors.
Let's not forget most of these will never be pro or even semi pro. They just love rl.
I've never sworn at a ref (yes not even the group chants). But I've seen plenty of youth matches at saints at halftime and the crowd never turns on the kids. They just applaud the good play.
That is the example parents and coaches should be following at the weekend.