THE number of assaults on referees overseeing grassroots football in Suffolk fell dramatically in the past year.

Two referees were attacked over the course of 2011, according to figures produced by The FA and Suffolk FA’s County Administration System, which logs all discipline cases received by Suffolk FA.

The categories assessed are: common assault, assault causing serious bodily harm, causing or attempting to cause bodily harm, and common assault by way of spitting at an official.

The FA’s definition of common assault is different to that used in criminal law and actions such as jostling, holding and pushing constitute a common assault.

In Suffolk over the last year there were two instances of causing serious bodily harm but zero assaults in all other categories.

This compares with three common assaults on match officials and 12 assaults causing bodily harm throughout 2010.

Colin Hills, Suffolk FA referee development manager, said: “I am delighted to see that there are much fewer instances of assaults on referees compared to 2010.

“Whilst the figures are pleasing there is no room for complacency and we at Suffolk FA take any reports of assaults of match officials very seriously.”

In England during 2011 there were 263 common assaults on referees, 37 instances where referees were spat at, 41 instances where the assaults caused or attempted to cause bodily harm, and four assaults which caused serious bodily harm.

This compares to 471 common assaults, 42 instances where referees were spat at, 95 instances where the assaults caused or attempted to cause bodily harm and 11 assaults which caused serious bodily harm in 2010.