THE Gravesend Saturday Football League has been plunged into crisis through an unprecedented shortage of referees.

League referees’ secretary Barry Fissenden says the competition, which last season celebrated its centenary, had just 13 registered referees to officiate in three divisions of 15 teams.

The league boasted 49 at the same time last year. Hopes that the Gravesend League might attract referees from the now defunct Dartford League have come to nothing and Mr Fissenden described the situation as a “big crisis".

He cited the continual abuse of referees as the root cause of the problem and blamed clubs for not heeding earlier warnings over a problem that had simmered for years.

He said: “When referee applications were returned on June 20, I received 13, and many of those are not making themselves regularly available.

“There is every possibility that on many weekends next season this league may have just seven referees to call on.

“I’m not going to pull punches over this problem because there is no point. This league kicks off in September and we are facing a big crisis.”

Even though the Gravesend branch of the Kent Referees’ Association is among the most active in the county, they have been unable to stem the tide of officials turning their back on the game.

Mr Fissenden added: “When teams turn up for games next season and regularly find that no referee is available to officiate, they should look at themselves and ask if they contributed to the problem.

“If players and officials would stop abusing referees then maybe we could get to grips with this problem.

“I see that the North Kent Sunday League have increased their referees’ fees to try and combat the problem. I mean no disrespect to that league but I don’t think money will solve it.

“Referees do not want to be subjected to constant ridicule and abuse.

“All I can do now is ring round and try and persuade those referees who have turned their back on the game to help us out.”

Kent County FA Referees' Officer John Newson, who lives in Gravesend, predicted the problem would get worse across the county.

He said: “What the Gravesend League are experiencing is the start of what will become a most unfortunate trend throughout Saturday junior football, not only in Kent, but nationally.

“It will get a lot worse before it gets better - if indeed it does get better.”

Any referee wishing to officiate on the Gravesend League is asked to contact Barry Fissenden on 01474 746082.