"In no workplace would it be acceptable': Teen referee makes desperate plea after Sunday league game

A 17-year-old football referee has called for the use of body cameras for his protection after being at the receiving end of appalling abuse from players twice his age. Taylor Shaw described the experience of officiating amateur men’s league games as "scary" due to the "horrendous" verbal attacks he's faced.

One such example is a disturbing incident in Halifax, West Yorkshire where a player aggressively told him "f**k you" during a game. He also mentioned other instances where players made unpleasant personal remarks about him, causing him to reconsider his goal of becoming a professional referee.

Taylor believes the FA isn't doing enough to protect him and his fellow officials amidst several alleged assaults at grassroots level matches. Despite the prohibition of recording devices by the International Football Association Board's 'Laws of the Game', he argues they are necessary to deter misconduct.

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Taylor expressed his concerns, saying: "In no workplace would it be acceptable to get up in somebody’s face."

He added, "It’s not acceptable anywhere, but on a football pitch, a 40 year old male can get in the face of a 17 year old boy and nobody bats an eyelid."

Shaw also highlighted the isolation referees feel on the field: "It’s a scary and lonely place because it’s you against everybody, and that’s how people see a referee. Whereas we turn up, and we are on both teams."

He concluded with a poignant remark on the FA's policies: "The FA allows me to referee where I’m still classed as a child and there are 22 adults on that pitch.

"This is their responsibility, and they’re not taking responsibility, they’re not protecting me. They’re not