Mail Sport’s weekly It’s All Kicking Off podcast (IAKO) has unearthed shocking first-hand evidence that tells of the shameful physical and verbal abuse that is driving hundreds of referees away from football.
As standards of behaviour towards referees and match officials from players and managers in the Premier League continue to plummet, IAKO hosts Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman spoke to two referees who have walked away from the game in recent months.
Both 25 years old, one was threatened with a knife and the other had his jaw broken after sending someone off during a five-a-side match.