While emotions can run high in the course of many sporting encounters, it is essential that referees are treated with full respect by players, coaches and spectators at all times.
Directing aggressive verbal tirades at officials can never be acceptable and any attempt to go even further through physical intimidation needs to be regarded with the utmost gravity by the authorities.
There can only be considerable shock over the picture we carry today of Daniel Sweeney, who suffered a broken jaw and other serious injuries when he was viciously assaulted after taking charge of an amateur league soccer game in Co Offaly.
Mr Sweeney, who is in his 50s, was reportedly attacked in a car park by three players from Mullingar Town FC, as well as a fan, after the club’s weekend 3-1 victory at Horseleap FC.
He was initially taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore but needed to be transferred for specialist treatment at St James’s hospital in Dublin following the incident, which is being investigated by Gardai.
Mr Sweeney is a respected and experienced official, and many people have taken to social media across Ireland to express their outrage over the Offaly case.
Alarm has been expressed over related issues in the GAA, particularly after video footage was widely viewed of referee Damien Harkin being knocked to the ground by a man who ran on to the field after Ballinascreen beat Greenlough in a Derry senior championship match at Dungiven in September.
There has also been considerable concern after it emerged in recent weeks that rugby administrators had failed to trace four spectators who were responsible for what was described as the `sustained, vile, sexist abuse’ of referee Grainne Crabtree during a game at Coleraine earlier this year.
Ms Crabtree was not physically harmed but said she felt `shock, confusion and fear’ during her ordeal, which after a considerable delay led to a £5,000 fine for Coleraine RFC.
There can be no doubt that the perpetrators should have been firmly held to account for their despicable actions, and it is equally clear that an episode which involves striking an official in any sport needs to result in a criminal prosecution.
The vast majority of players, spectators and coaches conduct themselves properly, but those who cross a line must be aware that specific consequences will follow.
If referees are not properly protected at every level, no one could blame them if they withdrew their services.
In those circumstances, a number of fixtures would have to be abandoned and some of our main sports would face a very uncertain future.
