Former FIFA referee explains why abuse is getting worse for officials

Turkish football has been suspended indefinitely, after the president of Ankaragucu punched the referee

Transcript

00:00 I believe it's getting worse, you know, because social media gives the right to everybody

00:04 to criticize, especially the ones who didn't do it with public voice before.

00:10 And football is a sociological phenomenon very unique because it can put you in a very

00:17 emotional state, sometimes irrational state, which is worse.

00:20 And you cannot ask people to be reasonable when they have their emotions so strongly

00:25 attached to their teams and their competitions.

00:28 More empathy, more tolerance.

00:30 I believe we are eager of results so much that we forget that there are people in there

00:36 who also have a family and friends and neighbors and also have a life and a decent life.

00:42 So sometimes we tend to forget that the referee is a human being who makes mistakes, even

00:48 with the technology, as it happens with players and coaches, for example.

00:52 Remember it's just football.

00:54 Respect, be tolerant.

00:57 Of course you like to win.

00:58 Of course you can criticize.

00:59 Of course you have that right to ask for, to demand for consequences.

01:03 But in the end of the day, we're just good people trying to do our best as are players

01:06 and coaches.