FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has highlighted the increasing difficulty for football officials due to on-field and online abuse, which is often fueled by conspiracy theories.

The Italian, who officiated the 2002 World Cup final, stated that the hatred directed at referees is a “cancer that could kill football” and shared that it is more challenging than ever to be a match official today.

As the chairman of FIFA’s referees’ committee, Mr. Collina helps create changes to the laws of the game. He acknowledges that making decisions is intricate, especially at the top levels due to the significant interest and pressure involved.

He also took issue with clubs and managers suggesting that referees are not impartial, which can contribute to the hostile environment.

Norwegian footballer Jose Mourinho recently faced a two-match ban for making derogatory comments about refereeing in Turkey.

When asked about the negative influence from the top echelons of football, Mr. Collina replied, “Unfortunately, this happens frequently. There are individuals who look for conspiracies and fabricate accusations even when there isn’t any malice.”

The campaigns against referees carried out by fans online, sometimes even supported by clubs, exacerbate the already tense atmosphere, making it potentially harmful.

“This situation has likely worsened in comparison to my era when social networks were non-existent,” Mr. Collina said.

“The abuse toward referees, especially in youth football, is gravely concerning and demands our attention. Youth football would face standpoint without referees but officials continue to be subjected to abuse on touchlines.”

“The abuse is uncontainable; it is inconceivable how parents of children are insulting referees who are guiding these formative experiences.”

“While only a small percentage might become professional players, everyone learns the values of teamwork and leadership from their experiences on the field that benefit their entire life.”

Both the English and Welsh FAs have seen referee recruitment rise, but retaining officials is now the key challenge.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham noted an improvement in behavior at grassroots level games with the introduction of body cameras for referees.

Major changes to football laws were approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) this weekend, including allowing only captains to discuss with referees.

“We must ensure that referees are respected and protected,” said FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom. “We back initiatives that educate and these practices need to trickle down to the grassroots levels.”

Despite some grumbling among fans, Mr. Collina is confident that video assistant refereeing (VAR) will remain. He stated that technology has been a positive addition and that its continual improvement is a priority.

Mr. Collina is adamant that human referees will still be necessary. He recognized the value of technology but maintained that it’s important for a human to make the final decisions in football matches.