Ontario soccer referees to wear body cameras to combat increase in abuse
Ontario referees will be outfitted with body cameras this summer in an effort to stop aggressive abuse at soccer games across the province.
"Last year we had a 16-year-old female official assaulted in a parking lot by angry parents," Johnny Misley, president of Ontario Soccer, said on Monday.
"We had a player in an adult recreation game last year thrown out of the game only to go to their car and pull a machete out of their trunk and chase the referee around the field."
In response, the Ontario Soccer Association is launching a pilot project, handing some of their referees body cameras, designed to capture any abuse, physical or mental, officials are subject to while on the job.
"Human behaviour has changed and we've seen an increase in aggressive behviour toward referees in matches," said Misley.
The provincial association is still working out the logistics of where the pilot will take place but the president says it will likely launch on July 1 and run through the indoor season with a report out next year.
"We're taking a zero tolerance approach," he said.
The move follows a pilot project already underway in the U.K. to deal with the exact same issue. Ontario's local associations are celebrating the idea.
"Unfortunately we've seen quite an increase in both the incidents, the number and the severity since coming back from COVID," said Michelle Loveless, executive director of the Durham Region Soccer Association.
She said the result is a roughly 66 per cent decrease in the number of registered referees in her district.
"Back in 2019, which was our last full outdoor season prior to COVID, we had 623 match officials registered. This year we have 219," said Loveless.
Toronto is facing a similar stress on lack of officials signing up.
"We're talking referees that are only 14 or 15 years old," said Toronto Soccer Association president, Rob Gillies, "all it takes is an adult to get in their face screaming at them and then they just say enough."
He said it will also be a huge help in discipline because at the moment while coaches can pay a fine for yelling at a ref, spectators are the responsibility of the club.
"Some of these parents kind of get themselves off the hook. The club pays the fine," said Gillies, adding that now there will be video footage.
Toronto's Referee Association has education and support systems in place, as well as offering assistance in writing reports when an issue arises.
"A piece of technology like a camera that can be added to the game is an extra element," said Matthew Bagazzoli, vice president of the Toronto Referee Association, "it could be a deterrent, it could be a useful tool to properly enforce the laws."
He said it's important to keep the game fun for everyone because the shortage of referees is being felt across the city but the number of games each day is back up to pre-pandemic levels.
"A lot of referees get overworked and they're overburdened," said Bagazzoli, "technology could play an important role and there's definitely an advantage to having something like that in the game."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Solar storm puts on brilliant light show across the globe, but no serious problems reported
A powerful solar storm put on an amazing skyward light show across the globe overnight but has caused what appeared to be only minor disruptions to the electric power grid, communications and satellite positioning systems.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
U.S. aims to stay ahead of China in using AI to fly fighter jets, navigate without GPS and more
When two U.S. fighter jets recently faced off in a dogfight in California, only one was piloted by a human.
'Increased fire activity' expected for Fort Nelson, B.C., blaze
A wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that forced thousands to flee their homes grew almost 800 hectares overnight Saturday, according to officials.