Referee Abuse Prevention Examples
U.S. Soccer recently announced a new Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP) policy.
- Defines levels of referee abuse
- Provides examples of referee abuse
- Minimum suspensions
- Reporting requirements (coming later in 2025)
USSoccer RAP Website
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Examples
- Non-Physical Level 1 = Verbal Taunting
- Do you even know the rules?
- Did you forget your glasses?
- What is the other team paying you?
- You suck
- You're the worst ref we've ever had
- Non-Physical Level 2 = Harassment / Intimidation
- That call was complete $h*t!
- You are a f--king joke
- You can't make a single good f****** call
- Getting in the referee's face
- Non-Physical Level 3 = Verbal Taunting
- You are gonna pay for that
- I'll see you in the parking lot
- I'm going to shove that card down your throat
- You better watch your back
- Attacking the referee on-line
- Non-Physical Level 4 = Verbal Taunting
- Racial slurs
- Offensive gestures
- Homophobic language
- Harmful or sexist stereotypes
- Physical Level 1 = Minor or slight touching
- Tapping the referee's shoulder to get their attention
- Touching the referee's chest with a finger
- Grabbing the referee's jersey to get their attention
- Intentionally bumping lightly into the referee
- Physical Level 2 = Intentional Confrontation
- Shoving the reeree
- Focefully grabbing the referee's arm
- Throwing a water bottle at the ground in front of the referee
- Dumping the referee's bag into a trashcan
- Aggressively grabbing the referee's jersey
- Following the referee to the parking lot or to their car
- Physical Level 3 = Violent Conduct
- Kicking the referee's shin
- Throwing a punch at the referee
- Placing hands on the neck to choke the referee
- Throwing a water bottle with intent to hit the referee
- Intentionally kicking the ball at the referee
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