Players threatened, official headbutted and 72 red cards in week of youth football

A youth football league has said behaviour at matches hit an "all-time low" in just one week when young players were threatened, an official was headbutted in front of children and police were called over possible hate speech.

In an email to team managers seen by the BBC, the Central Scotland Football Association said it had accrued a "long list" of discipline issues "which have no place in grassroots football".

This included an incident at a football festival where a team official headbutted another team official in front of children "who will be five and six-years old".

The league also heard of discriminatory language and matches being abandoned in the week where 72 red cards were handed out.

Some games have been cancelled while the incidents are investigated.

League Secretary Paul Crosbie said in the email: "The line has well and truly been crossed.

"The new season has been back for one week, seven days and already we have a long list of indiscipline and behaviours that have no place in grassroots football.

"Personally I thought I had seen and dealt with most things whilst being involved but yesterday hit a new all-time low".

Crosbie said that in one incident, a parent approached a league official "aggressively" after being asked to move away from an area beside the pitch reserved for players and team staff.

He said several games were abandoned during the opening week because of "team officials looking to go fighting with other team officials".

One team official had to be removed from a match because he was not registered with Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme - which is a legal requirement in regulated roles like teaching or sports coaching.

Crosbie said that discriminatory language had been used by players against other players, and by adults against minors.

The email also highlighted "team officials threatening minors".

Police are involved in one case following reports that threats were made during a game and that possible hate-related language was used.

The league's executive and disciplinary committees are now reviewing the cases and fixtures could be suspended for some teams and clubs as a result.

No individuals, teams or clubs have been named while investigations continue.

The Scottish Youth Football Association have been approached for comment.

The issues highlighted have been an ongoing headache in football for a long time.

The Scottish FA have worked on a number of initiatives to address the problem but are aware it's an ongoing battle.

In 2025 the governing body launched its 'Let them play' campaign, aimed, in part, at coaches and parents.

It encouraged adults to step back and allow children to enjoy the game without interference from over-eager adults.

It seems some are still not getting the message.

Ask anyone who regularly watches kids football and they will have their own stories about unacceptable conduct involving coaches and parents.

As attention turns once again to how the nation finds its stars of the future, this provides another ugly reminder that behaviour on and around pitches across the country also needs further scrutiny.