The rain is falling on the offices of the County FA, which must mean that football has restarted, is getting ready to restart, or in the case of our ‘summer’ leagues, is coming to an end.

So, as per last year, Cumberland FA have undertaken a review of discipline data from the previous season (23-24). The data provides some mixed messages regarding progress in trying to protect the game and provide a positive football environment for those involved within the game.  

The number of cases, especially linked to certain areas of behaviour, means that we clearly need to continue to prioritise work within this area and strive to improve standards of behaviour across the game. 

At the same time, we must continue to recognise that most of the football and those involved within the grassroots game in Cumberland have done a great job and continue to consistently demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a positive football environment within their own settings.  

The key headlines for 23-24 (when compared to the previous season (22-23)) are: 

• The overall number of matches played within 23-24 increased by 17% to 8002 matches. 
• The number of discipline cases for all sanctions (including yellow and red cards) was up 22%
• Yellow cards (cautions) up by 21% 
• Red Cards (dismissals) up by 29% 

In terms of specific offences against match officials, again this saw a small but albeit worrying increase from season 22-23, with: 

• Abusive language/behaviour against a Match Official going from 11 to 15 cases. 
• Threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour against a Match Official increasing from 3 to 4 cases. 
• There being 1 case of Physical contact or attempted physical contact against a Match Official.
• 0 assaults or attempted assaults against a match official reported. 

Likewise, those offences that directly link to behaviour including sin bins/yellow cards for dissent, misconduct charges (for discipline breaches outside of standard red or yellow card offences, including touchline and on-field behaviour) and Red Cards for the use of offensive, insulting, or abusive language (S6) were also, in the main, up on the previous season with: 

• Sin bins and dissent cautions up from 240 to 289. 
• Misconduct charges increasing from 71 to 104. 
• Red cards for S6 down by 7% 

This is not a great picture and is a little disappointing, but whilst we cannot ignore this data it is also important to keep the big picture in context.  When we consider the increased volume of games being played within the county this still means that: 

• Red Cards (Dismissals) are given in less than 3% of all games (and less than 1% when it comes to S6 offences)
• Misconduct cases occur in less than 2% of games played within the county. 
• Less than 1% of games have a misconduct case against a match official. 
• And only 5% of all football played had a serious incident reported. 

This means that 95% of football continues to be played within a positive football environment. 

You can see examples of positive behaviour in the articles below:

JOHN TWENTYMAN AWARDS SHORTLIST

League Positive Football and Respect Winners 

Cumberland FA CEO and Positive Football Environment Lead Officer, Ben Snowdon, said: 

“It is clearly a little worrying and certainly disappointing that we have seen a small growth in poor and in some cases unacceptable behaviour within our game in Cumberland.  This should act as a reminder to all that despite the successes of such initiatives as the behaviour-consequence ladder, that we must continue to address the problematic few that threaten the perception and reputation of our game. 

“We will therefore continue to work with our leagues and clubs to deliver a multi-faceted approach in trying to improve the football environment through communications and educational campaigns to promote, influence and reinforce expected standards of behaviour.  Whilst at the same time acting against those who consistently demonstrate undesirable or unacceptable behaviour to ensure that the actions of a minority do not spoil the game for all.

“Our collective approach will be to reset behaviour on the pitch and from the side-lines, whilst giving our referees the respect and protection that they deserve. We thank the ‘silent majority’ who demonstrate desired behaviour and ask that they stand together with us, to protect the game and ensure that more people fall in love with, and experience footballs unique power to deliver amazing benefits to individuals and their respective communities.”