How can we teach children the rights and wrongs in life if we adults act like buffoons ourselves?

Everyone has role to play in making referees safer

- SHANE CASSELLS

The issue of referee abuse is a blight on sport. Two-thirds of Irish refs quit within two years due to being shouted at, insulted and even assaulted.

The Federation of Irish Sport has called for a working group to develop and design a code of conduct at games.

Here, Senator Shane Cassells a former sports journalist - says we all have a role to play.

I shouted at Tipperary referee Derek O’Mahoney in Croke Park recently.

Forgive me. I’m from Meath and it wasn’t a good day for us. He was officiating in our match against Dublin, and the Jacks trounced the Royals.

For good measure, Derek showed two of our lads red cards.

On the way into the ground, I spoke to my 12-year-old daughter CJ and 11-year-old son Noah about the need for us to be good fans and not abuse either officials or the opposing players.

I had been lauding the Federation of Irish Sport for its efforts to stamp out abuse of referees.