VIOLENT or abusive parents at junior football games may soon be given anti-social behaviour orders. Football officials say they will not tolerate touchline abuse, after an increase in attacks on amateur league referees. Among recent incidents, a young father threatened to shoot an elderly referee for refusing his son's team a penalty. There have been brawls between fathers on opposing teams, and a boy of 12 was subjected to a torrent of foul language from an adult. The Crown Prosecution Service is backing moves to issue asbos to parents who persistently offend. Liverpool County FA says it is considering the move, but describes it as a "sad day for football". The county FA raised the issue at the recent FA conference on discipline. It also called for a greater show of discipline at all levels of football, especially in the game's top tier. Local officials have demanded increased punishments for misbehaving star players to act as a deterrent for younger footballers at the lower level of the game. Iain Criddle, specialist asbo prosecutor for Merseyside CPS, said: "If the FA and police think it necessary to bring a criminal case against a parent, I would have no hesitation in applying for an anti-social behaviour order. "If a parent is causing problems at football matches, I can see no reason why we shouldn't move to ban them from attending games." Steve Catterall, secretary of Liverpool County FA, said: "Relative increases in verbal attacks, and the occasional violence, are occurring due to the substantial increase in youth football, not just in the Liverpool County FA area, but also nationally. "The increases in the verbal attacks are mainly from the parents. "The vast majority are 'very well behaved' and act as 'excellent role models', but a small minority have a total disregard for any authority, in whichever form." This week the ECHO reported that youngsters in an Anfield junior league game were set upon by by a gang of yobs. Mr Catterall added: "I fully understand the concerns of the parents, but incidents like this are extremely rare. "In six years in the game I have never heard of youngsters targeting youth league game in that way. It would be hard to police every junior football match." mikehornby@liverpoolecho.co.uk 'Some fathers become too passionate' >>> | 
