The referees take a stand and all futsal matches in Catalonia are suspended
All weekend activities have been suspended due to an attack
The Catalan Football Federation (FCF) has decided to suspend all futsal activity in Catalonia this weekend following a serious assault on a referee during a youth match in Canet. The measure, announced Wednesday night, affects all matches scheduled for February 27th and 28th and March 1st. The incident occurred last Saturday when a fan of CFS La Unión Santa Coloma de Gramanet threw a fanny pack from the stands, which struck the referee, knocking him to the ground. The incident, which happened just minutes before the end of the match, was the final straw for referees who are denouncing a "sustained increase in verbal and physical assaults in recent weeks." Therefore, the federation wanted to take a strong response to what it considers "absolutely intolerable" events.
In it releaseThe Federation underlines its "commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and to the protection of referees as an essential part of the game" and reaffirms that it "will continue working with determination to ensure that football pitches and futsal arenas are safe spaces, characterized by respect and coexistence." The objective, the institution asserts, is clear and non-negotiable: "These are absolutely intolerable acts that have no place in Catalan sport." "From the outset, the FCF has been in constant contact with the affected referee, offering him all the necessary support," the statement concludes.
The assault in question
The incident that led to this situation occurred last Saturday. Specifically, a futsal referee was brutally attacked by a visiting fan with less than two minutes remaining in the youth league match between Canet FS and CFS La Unión Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
This incident has exhausted the patience of the Catalan referees, who have finally walked out. "The verbal and physical abuse has reached a point that compels us to reflect deeply as a group," they stated in a joint press release. "No one performing refereeing duties should feel afraid or have their safety compromised while simply doing their job," they maintain.
