Ontario Soccer hopes body cameras can rein in ref abuse

Ontario's soccer association hopes a pilot project to outfit referees with body cameras will deter abuse at children's games.

Johnny Misley, CEO of Ontario Soccer, told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning the province is "losing referees at an alarming rate."

"We're finding out that the number one reason, by far, is because of referee abuse," said Misley.

Verbal abuse and even physical assault, including an incident last year where a red-carded player chased a referee around the field with a machete, were key incidents that led to the pilot project, he added.

As a result, Ontario Soccer's board approved a plan for the next two years to help change the culture and institute zero tolerance for abuse. In part, starting July 1, the organization will launch a pilot in some locations to see if referee body cameras can act as a deterrent for bad behaviour.

"To have referees wearing ... body cams is a pretty sad statement of where our society has come to," said Misley.

Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association president Keith Penny said he'd be in favour of trying the body camera program in the Ottawa area in future seasons. He said abuse cases against game officials have become more frequent and intense.

He noted many of the referees are also minors.

"To have adult people yell at them and threaten them is so appalling," said Penny. "That is not what we represent."

Former referee Nelson Mahmoudi said he has seen some referees leave "because of how traumatic their experiences were," and he is happy to see an effort made to protect current and future refs.

Mahmoudi, who worked as a referee beginning when he was a teenager, said he faced swearing, yelling and shoving. As a general rule, the younger the players, the more vitriolic the