A new initiative has been set up by the charity Ref Support which is urging grassroots football fans to clap referees onto the pitch when football returns after lockdown report Sky Sports.
‘Give The Ref A Hand’ was designed in the hope that it will end the hostility aimed towards some grassroots match officials on a weekly basis.
Ref Support CEO Martin Cassidy said: “We want all clubs at grassroots level, or higher, to clap the referees out on our first weekend back and to just give them a hand to make football positive for everyone. Let’s come back [after lockdown] and make the game better together.”
Grassroots football will be able to return later this year after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his roadmap to get England out of lockdown on Monday.
Amateur football teams will be permitted to compete again from March 29th which will also see the reintroduction of referees.