FAMILIES were banned from taking photographs of their teenage sons playing football after a referee said that they were breaking child protection rules.

The under-15s match was stopped three times and the teams warned that they would be deducted points if the 150 parents did not stop taking photographs or using their video cameras.

The order followed widespread bans by schools and youth clubs preventing parents from recording plays and concerts, sports days and awards’ presentations.

The referee of Sunday’s match between Ashford Borough FC and Folkestone Invicta FC told parents that they could only photograph players if they had the written permission of every parent whose son was on the pitch.

Alan Sleator, a spectator, was taking photos of his 14-year-old son Laurie during the first half of the game in Ashford, Kent, when he was upbraided by the referee.

Mr Sleator, a 50-year-old PR executive, who drove 90 miles to watch the game, said: “He came charging up to me and I got a right dressing down. He said, ‘You can’t take photographs, it’s child protection.’ Someone else was taking photographs and he did the same thing.”

The third time the referee spotted another parent brandishing a camera, during the second half, he halted the game for ten minutes.

Mr Sleator said: “He called both managers into the centre of the pitch and told them that if anyone in the crowd took any more photographs without his permission he would abandon the match and deduct points from both teams.

“He instructed managers to confiscate cameras. I turned away and admitted defeat. Declaring parents who take photographs of their own kids to be criminals is hardly a great way to build the grass roots of the game.” The match ended with Asford winning 3-2.

Bob Dix, chairman of Folkestone Invicta FC, said that he knew nothing about the guidelines and neither, according to parents, did football league officials attending neighbouring games on Sunday.

Mr Dix said: “Most people who go to youth games are family or friends and many of them take pictures or videos. You see [David] Beckham and [Ashley] Cole’s parents showing off videos of them playing when they were boys.”

The Football Association said that there were no rules preventing parents from taking pictures of youth matches.

“We have issued guidance, not rules, that parents should try not to take individual pictures of children who are not their own and should record action shots and group shots.”

Keith Masters, chief executive of the Kent Football Association, said: “There is no reason why the parents could not take photographs. I have spoken to the referee and explained this to him. He said that he was told to do this when he attended a child protection course.”

The National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations said last year that headteachers should ban cameras and videos from school events unless all families have given permission for their children to be filmed.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• What makes the perfect mum?
• To keep me stress-free, no more awareness days, please
• What do lottery winners buy?