Sport Ireland launches campaign to address the increasing levels of abuse officials face from players and spectators

Respect for Officials campaign backed by University of Ulster research and developed with more than 20 National Governing Bodies of Sport 

 
This Sunday (October 11th) Sport Ireland is launching its new national Respect for Officials campaign, developed in collaboration with more than 20 National Governing Bodies of Sport, to reduce abuse directed toward sports officials.   
The campaign, launched to coincide with International Referee Day on Sunday, October 11^th, is backed by Sport Ireland commissioned research which found that growing levels of abuse toward officials is being driven by disagreement with decisions, high emotional investment, poor knowledge of rules, the normalisation of abuse, and officials often seen as ‘them’ rather than part of the sporting community. 

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said: “This campaign is a key contribution to shaping the culture and standards we want in Irish sport. It provides an opportunity to reinforce the principles of respect, inclusion and integrity that should underpin sport at every level. The Government is proud to back this campaign that seeks to make sure officials get the respect they deserve.”  
Respect for Officials is focused on tackling abuse from players and spectators, declining numbers, and retention challenges facing sports officials. The campaign, based on findings and recommendations from University of Ulster research, recognises everyone involved in sport has a role to play in making this happen.   

Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue said: “This campaign seeks to embed respect, integrity, and positive behaviour as fundamental principles of participation, with officials rightly recognised as an essential part of sport. It represents the Government’s commitment to strengthening the culture, standards and policy framework governing respect for officials, and we’re proud to support it.”  
The campaign will be launched in three parts, with the first part of the campaign appearing on social media with the core message of ‘Passion for Sport. Respect for Sport’. The campaign features sporting photography showing officials and the sporting community, illustrating how officials are crucial to helping sport take place.   
The campaign also features a series of short, direct-to-camera films featuring officials from across sport. Each official speaks honestly about their profession, their motivations and what officiating means to them. The first video in this series will go live on social media on Sunday, October 11^th.  

Dr Úna May, CEO of Sport Ireland, said: “Officials make sport possible, at every level. Sport Ireland is committed to keeping officiating a respected, rewarding pathway. This campaign is central to that.”  
The campaign has been designed to speak to participants, players and athletes, coaches, managers and club leaders, parents, supporters, clubs, volunteers, administrators, National Governing Bodies (NGBs), media, commentators, and officials at every level of sport.  

John Foley, Chairperson of Sport Ireland, said: “Respect should underpin everything we do in games and sports. All participants – players, officials, coaches, administrators, and spectators – share responsibility for ensuring games are played in a way everyone can enjoy. Abuse of participants has no place in any sport.”  
A Sport Ireland developed toolkit has been deployed to all 29 Local Sports Partnerships and 65 Sport Ireland recognised NGBs which will be able to adapt it to their own purposes while keeping a consistent series of messages and enabling them to roll it out their own stakeholders.   

Michael McGeehin, Sport Ireland Director of Coaching, said: “Officiating is a valued and vital part of sport – the reality is that without officials the games we all love so much just wouldn’t be able to happen. At Sport Ireland we’re committed to providing officials with the tools, support, and recognition they deserve. I’d like to thank the expert membership of the Respect for Officials Working Group for their help in bringing this campaign to fruition.”   

Clare Dowdall, Sport Ireland Officials Development Manager, said: “The first step in our plan to transform and elevate the role of officiating in Irish sport was the launch of our Technical Officials Development Plan 2025–2027., the first national plan of its kind in Europe.  
“We are now delighted to launch this national campaign, which aims to foster a positive and respectful environment for technical officials. We are proud to be leading the first coordinated national effort to strengthen support for officials and highlight the invaluable contribution they make to sport across Ireland.”  
The Respect for Officials Working Group is made up of representative from more than 20 NGBs, including the FAI, GAA, IRFU, Basketball Ireland, Canoeing Ireland, Cycling Ireland, and Rowing Ireland.   

About the research 
In 2026, Sport Ireland commissioned the University of Ulster to research behaviours toward sports officials, combining a literature review of 69 studies with surveys of 715 officials and 478 coaches/athletes/spectators across 45 sports.   
The research found abuse is driven by factors like disagreement with decisions, high emotional investment, poor rules knowledge, normalisation of abuse, and officials being seen as an ‘outgroup’. These findings informed the We the People campaign.   

ENDS  

Images 
Group shot: Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD, centre left, and Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Charlie McConalogue TD, centre right, alongside from left to right, Azam Ali Baig, Cricket Ireland, Rob Hennessy, FAI, Maggie Farrelly, GAA and LGFA, Sport Ireland Officials Development Manager Clare Dowdall, Sport Ireland Director of Coaching Michael McGeehin, Sport Ireland Chairperson John Foley, Sport Ireland Chief Executive Officer Dr Úna May, Sean Butterly, Basketball Ireland, Phillip Rooney, Boxing Ireland, Mary Shirley, Triathon Ireland, and Jack MacNeice, IRFU, at the Respect The Officials Photocall at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
Selection of campaign images also attached 
Spokespeople available on request  
For more information, please contact Sport Ireland Communications at [email protected]   
 
About Sport Ireland 
Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland, including participation in sport, high-performance sport, anti-doping, coaching, and the development of the Sport Ireland Campus, in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. 
About Sport Ireland Coaching 
Sport Ireland Coaching has the lead role for coaching in Ireland. Working in partnership with the National Governing Bodies and the wider sporting sector, Sport Ireland Coaching leads the development of coaching in Ireland through the implementation of quality Coach & Coach Developer training and support programmes.