Following recent reports of violence at a youth football match in Pembrokeshire and warnings that abuse is driving referees away from the amateur game, new research has highlighted the scale of the challenges facing grassroots football across Wales.

The 2026 Grassroots Football Report, created by sports equipment manufacturerFORZA, surveyed volunteers from more than 40 grassroots clubs in Wales to explore how abuse, referee shortages, and growing financial pressures are impacting the future of the game.

During an Under 15s match in Milford Haven last month, parents and children were involved in an ugly bust-up.

Neill Crawshaw, chairman of the Pembrokeshire Referees Society said that stronger sanctions are needed to protect officials and others in the face of such toxicity.

"Those parents, for me, should be banned from all football for life," he stated.

"There's nothing that happened in that game that should make you want punch other people. It's a football game at the end of the day, and it's a children's football game.

"So if you can't hold that level then you shouldn't even be involved in football at all.

"If I had any opportunity for an input into that, that's what I would be recommending. Because until you stop it, it will never end.

"That's why the senior game is in the state it's in now, because it comes through from junior football. Junior football is where it starts,” he continued.

"As chairman of Pembrokeshire Referees Society, I feel obligated to speak out about the increasingly unacceptable behaviour, hostility and abuse being directed towards match officials across our county.

"The situation is serious, it is damaging our game, and it cannot be allowed to continue.

"Some have already made it clear that this season will be their last.

"We risk losing experienced officials who have dedicated years to Pembrokeshire football, alongside newer referees who should represent its future.

"We need the league, clubs and Referees Society working together to agree meaningful steps to protect our officials and the future of our game.

"Protect our referees. Respect our referees. Hold those responsible for abuse accountable. Because without referees, there is no football.

Following the incident, a police spokesperson said: "Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of a public order offence which took place at Hakin Football Club on Picton Road, Hakin, on Saturday, September 1.

"The incident was reported to have taken place at a time between 12pm and 12.30pm. The matter has been recorded and allocated for onward investigation."

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Nearly six in 10 club representatives have witnessed abuse in the past 12 months: 59.7% of respondents stressed that they had witnessed, either on occasion or frequently, abuse directed at a match official in the last year.

Meanwhile, 7 in 10 respondents referred to parents or spectators being among those typically responsible for abuse at the grassroots level of the game in Wales.

New referee boycott further highlights a shortage of match official interest: ‘Referees in one league have now decided to boycott all matches’, following recent incidents. 68% of survey respondents are noticing the shortage in referees and think it is a serious problem. All but three respondents (93%) think that the fear of abuse is either a definite factor or a potential factor putting people off becoming referees.

Professional football is setting the wrong example, according to respondents: Multiple respondents noted that professional players on TV have a lot to answer for, and if they were to take responsibility for their actions, show respect to the referee, and demonstrate better behaviour in general for children who idolise them, it would improve the culture at grassroots level.

As part of the wider survey, the impact of the professional game was a big talking point, and 8 in 10 UK grassroots clubs believe behaviour in the English Premier League influences the amateur game.

Rising costs and volunteering shortages are adding to grassroots pressures: Over four in five (81%) grassroots clubs in Wales reported a significant increase in costs over the past 12 months, with almost two-fifths (38%) saying pitch hire is the biggest increase. Worryingly, almost two-thirds (62%) of clubs say there isn’t enough funding available.

When exploring the struggles clubs face across Wales, over half (55%) of clubs say they don’t have enough football training equipment. Clubs also heavily rely on the assistance of volunteers giving their time to the sport, yet over four-fifths (83%) of clubs believe recruitment has become harder.

You can view the wider report findings here