The Lincolnshire Football Association (FA) chair has set out his aim to tackle abuse in grassroots football.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam has outlined his plan of action for tackling abuse in the county, and the country.
He rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, standing alongside government ministers during the daily Downing Street press conferences.
What has Jonathan Van-Tam said?
The Lincolnshire FA chair spoke to Lincoln-based reporter Jamie Johnson about his plan: “My plan of action is two-pronged. First of all, in Lincolnshire we must do all we can within the regulations as they currently stand to sort this out. But, I’m also going to be, and it’s a bit of a slower burn, attempting to work with the national FA to say ‘Why, for example, are parents not considered participants if they bring along their children to a game of football’.”
He added: “The more people I talk to, whether they are spectators, whether they are referees, whether they are parents, they just go, ‘The kid’s game, the under-18s, it is awful’, because of the behaviour of a minority of supporters. I hesitate to call them supporters, more watchers.
“There should be absolutely no circumstances where an underage ref gets back into a car with their parents in tears because they tried to do a good job and run a game for other children. It’s just way off what is acceptable, it just isn’t right.”
Van-Tam to Tackle “Appalling” Abuse:
The Lincolnshire FA chair labelled abuse in grassroots football as “appalling”, and described tackling it as one of the main aims of his role.
He took the helm last July after stepping back from his position in central government.
Van-Tam, who was born in Lincolnshire town, Boston, was the deputy chief medical officer from October 2017 until March 2022. This made him a key, public-facing part of the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 60-year-old became known for his love of football, once turning up to a Downing Street press conference wearing a tie from National League side Boston United, and often using football anecdotes. He is a self-proclaimed diehard Pilgrims fan, even being spotted dressed as a nun at a match towards the latter stages of their promotion winning season.
Van-Tam, often known by his initials of ‘JVT’, announced that there had been 51 instances of abuse as of February.
Inside and Outside of Lincolnshire:
‘JVT’s approach is on two levels, both inside and outside the borders of Lincolnshire. He wishes to tackle abuse in grassroots football within the control of Lincolnshire FA, while also lobbying the national Football Association (FA) to cut into the wider problem.
National FA figures, published in late 2023, presented a growth in abuse of grassroots referees.
Van-Tam has a number of goals for his stint as Lincolnshire FA chair, including helping increase the inclusiveness and diversity of the county’s sport, but sees tackling abuse as one of his primary targets.