ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses upon the experiences of match officials outside England. Drawing on media reports from sports and countries around the world to consider the wider issues associated with the abuse of sports match officials, this chapter considers the extent of the abuse towards match officials. In order to provide further context, the specific experiences of football referees in France and the Netherlands are considered, through the analysis of empirical research conducted in these countries. Findings suggest that there are transnational trends which exist across sports and that parallels can be drawn when considering the experiences of match officials in England and other countries, particularly regarding the disciplinary processes and the influence of the professional game.
