Referees are calling for the FA to channel some of its £200 million grassroots investment to pay for child-protection fees for potential new match officials.

Eddie McGrath, secretary of the Bootle Referees’ Society, is asking the FA to take a lead from other sports and foot the bill for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.

“At a time when we’re losing 7,000 referees a year and Fabio Capello [the England manager] is earning £6 million, surely it would make sense to provide incentives rather than costs for people considering taking up refereeing?” the Level 5 referee said. “It may only cost an individual £15 a year to be a referee, but, for students and young people, that counts.”

The FA last week launched its Respect campaign, as part of the National Game Strategy, which was given an immediate test when Ashley Cole turned his back on Mike Riley as the referee went to caution the Chelsea left back during the 4-4 Barclays Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday.

Capello appeared to rubberstamp the FA’s campaign by indicating that he would lay down the law to his England squad this week about the example they are setting to the country’s amateur footballers.

“There is a motion at the referees’ association conference in Eastleigh this year suggesting we do not pay our fees because referees in rugby and cricket don’t have to pay for their CRB checks.”

McGrath, a former policeman, who works in Everton’s academy, said: “The Respect campaign is essential because I hear horror stories week after week about the levels of behaviour and of parents swearing at the kids. To achieve Charter Standard, clubs have to toe the line according to codes of conduct. But we still hear about referees having to abandon games because of intimidation and we have our work cut out to retain them.

“Every referee has to pay a £10 registration fee each year, but in addition we have to pay £15 every three years for our CRB checks. When the FA are trying to bring in more referees, and there is so much money geared towards grassroots football, why are we charging people to officiate?”

An FA spokesman said: “We have had 150,000 people involved in football go through their CRB checks and we have to look at the overall picture. There are volunteers involved in coaching, administration, in the professional game, as well as refereeing.

“There are subsidies available, but, even then, £12 is not an onerous fee. If we were going to pay for this, we would have to consider who else needs their costs covering. We do not have a bottomless pit and paying these costs would take money away from other priorities.”

All registered referees require a CRB check, but the FA is awaiting news of government legislation for exemption for open-age football [the adult game].

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