U.S. Soccer’s strengthened “Referee Abuse Prevention” policy includes detailed consequences for offenses by players and coaches in American youth and amateur soccer.
The updated policy, which takes effect in March 2025, provides a penalty framework spanning from verbal taunting to violent contact. The enforcement depends on the reporting of abuse to U.S. Soccer’s Competition Authority (CA) by referees, as well as by players, coaches and spectators. The CA will review documents submitted in the report and submit to the member organization its hearing body’s decision.
Reporting abuse entails submitting a written report (within 48 hours of the abuse if possible) with game information and a detailed description of the incident. Unedited video clips should be included if available.
U.S. Soccer will provide details on the appropriate designee to submit reports to and in-depth procedure for reporting abuse ahead of the implementation in March. (It advises that member associations’ current reporting structures be followed in the meanwhile.)
U.S. Soccer cited these statistics upon its announcement of the strengthened policy:
- 90% of referees report that abuse has increased over the last 5 years.
- 60% of referees choose not to recertify due to harassment and threats.
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