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Isn’t it time the Scottish Football Association lent a little more support?

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Health and social care staff have always provided front-line services but now they are finding themselves in a true battle zone: a recent survey suggests that more than 40 percent of staff have been assaulted. Violence at work is a major occupational hazard for many UNISON members. The UNISON Scotland survey showed an increase in verbal and physical assaults on staff.

What is violence at work?

People have a right to work in a safe environment. Physical attacks are the most serious form of violence, but verbal abuse and threats are much more common and can have long-term health effects. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines violence at work as ‘any incident in which an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work’.

So I hear you ask, what has this has got to do with a blog about football?

If you did not already know who the Celtic manager was, then you would be forgiven for thinking that a fan had invaded the park and was running towards the referee at the end of the Scottish Cup semi-final between Hearts and Celtic. I am referring to the Celtic manager running seventy yards across the national stadium’s pitch to confront the referee for awarding a last minute penalty against his team.

Had the verbal volley, and in your face actions of the Celtic manager happened in a hospital, social work office or high street shop it would clearly not be tolerated. The referees are already getting enough stick from the crowd without it getting up close and personal.

The HSE makes it clear that it is not just physical violence that is harmful. According to the HSE, ‘physical attacks are obviously dangerous, but serious or persistent verbal abuse or threats can also damage employees’ health through anxiety or stress’. Repeated verbal abuse can also lead to depression, reduced morale and increased sickness absence.

The referees are employed by the SFA to do a difficult job and having to put up with abuse is no more a normal part of their job than it is for emergency workers who work in difficult situations. I feel that it is now time for the SFA and other football authorities to condemn strongly workforce violence such as was seen at Hampden and at many other football stadiums week in week out. And they must also take a stronger line on managers and player who feel that referees are there as a verbal punch bag when things go wrong. As the HSE states: it’s is not part of the job.

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