US Soccer’s updated Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (Policy 531-9) is designed to make youth and amateur matches more safe, more fun, and more empowering for everyone involved.  The updated policy includes clear examples and consequences of misconduct.

Learn more about the US Soccer Referee Abuse Prevention Policy

Key points:

• Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience soccer without risking his or her well-being. 
• We must protect those in service to the game.
• Both physical and non-physical abuse have no place in our game.
• Suspensions will be for a number of games or time-based (or sometimes both) depending on severity and circumstance.
• Players, coaches, and spectators are all encouraged to report abuse.

When you as a referee are involved in an abuse situation…
1.    Your first call should be to your referee assignor.
2.    Complete your game report as usual.
3.    Submit a MDCVASRP Referee Abuse Report online.
4.    Your Area Referee Administrator will contact you to discuss the incident and next steps.
5.    Email the SRP Office if you do not hear from your ARA within 48 hours.
6.    We strive to resolve referee abuse incidents within 30 days.
7.    Additional information on processing and adjudicating referee abuse incidents is included within the Referee Abuse Report.

Posted March 13, 2025