Accountability Gap Fuels Referee Shortage in Football  

Refereeing in Belize is facing a crisis. Growing abuse from fans and players has pushed many referees to the brink, with some stepping away for their own safety. Four national referees with international qualifications have announced that they are throwing in the whistle. The situation highlights deep-rooted issues in accountability and respect within sport. News Five spoke with one of those highly trained referees, Victor Caliz, who was assaulted by a fan a week ago, following a Premier League of Belize match in Belize City. He says that was his second such experience. After seven years of officiating matches he says that he no longer feels safe on and off the field. And, he is not pointing fingers at any specific individual, but rather disciplinary shortcomings across the entire football system.

 

Victor Caliz, National Football Referee

“Lately it has been unsafe. It has been an unsafe environment and for me, I have been attacked twice and as much as I love doing what I did, I feel like the sacrifice is not by being harmed. I feel like sacrificing to become better should have been my sacrifice of dedication, discipline, ex amount of training, and taking time from my family. There are different types of sacrifices and harming someone is not a sacrifice I am willing to take anymore. I have been attacked twice, and I don’t think I deserve to be attacked a third time. It is happening in all levels of football. It is not just the top level in Belize. It is happening from the youth level all the way to the top. I think the culture has changed drastically in football. We have a lot of talent but there is no discipline anymore and no one is taking action to change football and make it a good environment for the youths and even the top athletes. Speaking for myself I have been to five international tournaments and the level of football over there is on a high level and the discipline is extraordinary. You caution a player and they walk away. You send them off and they don’t even talk to you back, they walk away. That is what we need to be at. We can’t always be behind. And I really hope the ones staying back and continue this career that they all be safe.”

 

Caliz says he hopes that his voice reaches to the relevant authorities that can take action and do something different.