U.S. SOCCER INTRODUCES “RESPECT THE CALL” INITIATIVE AS PART OF UPDATES TO REFEREE ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY
Federation Introduces Stronger Sanctions for Any Form of Physical or Non-Physical Abuse Toward Referees
CHICAGO (March 14, 2025) – As part of U.S. Soccer’s commitment to empower and protect its match officials, the Federation has announced important updates to its Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (Policy 531-9). Effective March 2025, the “Respect The Call” initiative introduces stronger sanctions for any form of non-physical or physical abuse toward referees during amateur and youth matches.
“As we work to ensure a safe environment for all participants, ‘Respect the Call’ supports our referee community, will help our referee community grow and develop as well as help prevent referee abuse,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “It also sets clear guidelines to penalize abusers of referees.”
“Just like players, coaches and fans, referees are integral to our soccer ecosystem,” said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. “As we continue in our mission to grow the number of referees nationally, ‘Respect The Call’ aims to keep qualified referees working in our game longer, as well as showing developing and prospective match officials a support structure that allows them to grow in this important discipline.”
The updated policy lays out clear levels of sanctioning for both non-physical and physical abuse:
NON-PHYSICAL ABUSE
- Level 1: Verbal Taunting – Minimum two-game suspension (Examples: offensive, insulting, belittling, insinuating, taunting language).
- Level 2: Harassment / Intimidation – Minimum four-game suspension (Examples: harassment, intimidation, retaliation, abusive language, non-physical threats).
- Level 3: Threats / Derogatory Language – Minimum six-game and/or 6-12 month suspension (Examples: aggression, attacking, derogatory, doxing, physical threat, cyber bullying).
- Level 4: Offensive or Discriminatory Acts – Minimum 10-game and/or 12-24 month suspension (Examples: comments about race, skin color, ethnicity, nationality, social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion).
PHYSICAL ABUSE
- Level 1: Minor or Slight Touching – Minimum three-game and/or 1-6 month suspension (Examples: minor or slight deliberate touching).
- Level 2: Physical Confrontation – Minimum 10-game and/or 6-24 month suspension (Examples: pushing, grabbing, pulling, squeezing, pinching, slapping, use of object in a non-striking manner, property damage).
- Level 3: Violent Contact – Minimum 12-month suspension to lifetime ban (Examples: hitting, punching, elbowing, kicking, biting, spitting, choking, tackling, kneeing, headbutting, throwing object in striking manner).
U.S. Soccer is in the process of developing an overarching reporting protocol for this new initiative. In the interim, individuals are asked to use their current local procedures to report referee abuse.
Accomplished U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Team coaches Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino also showed support for the “Respect The Call” initiative.
“I have a sincere appreciation for how difficult a referee’s job can be, and that’s in an international match or an Under-12 girls’ game,” said U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes. “Putting U.S. Soccer’s Referee Abuse Policy into action is a great step, but what we need is buy in from our entire soccer ecosystem – administrators, parents, coaches, players – to have empathy for our referees and understand that they are a key part of our game, a very important part, and not separate from our game. Everyone deserves to be shown respect, especially those who grab a whistle every weekend for the benefit of our young players.”
“Referees at all levels play a critical role in the game. Like players and coaches, they strive to deliver their best performance and deserve our support,” Pochettino said. “‘Respect the Call’ isn’t just about sportsmanship on the field; it’s about treating others with respect and dignity. This is an important initiative for U.S. Soccer and one that I hope becomes a model for others around the world.”
