Well guess where I got my quote from? :)

I can confirm that the abuse of referees is alive and well at grass roots level. For the last year my daughter has been playing at U18s and I was surprised at the level of constant moaning at the refs that went on by certain clubs. On two occasions the referee came over to the whingers and one told them to shut up and be a good example to their daughters as he was in charge and wouldn’t be listening to them anyway. The other told them much the same but added that they may be asked to leave the pitch side. Unfortunately one young lad was harangued by two coaches from the opposition who had to be herded away from him by our coaches. I hope the poor lad doesn’t give up as our team said he was good and fair.  We have had terrible refs who have lost us games because of poor reffing but our coaches and parents have not said anything to them. There are ways to complain through the proper channels. My daughter has said that the teams with the moany parents had a moany teams and vice versa. You have to keep your frustrations to yourself or the whole thing goes to pot.