“Your husband should be publicly executed for his performance. I hope your son gets cancer and suffers horribly before he dies.”
This message, addressed to the wife of a referee, was shared by the officials union (NBRA) on X/Twitter. While the atmosphere around refereeing has been particularly tense since the start of the NBA season, the association has decided to sound the alarm, to recall some basic concepts.
“No one should ever have to read a message like this. Yet family members of NBA referees have been subjected to hateful and derogatory messages like this far too often. This behavior is unacceptable and we refuse to allow the anonymity of direct messages to protect those responsible. Threats of violence, whether against referees or their family members, are intolerable. Faced with the worrying rise in aggression and hostility towards referees, both on the pitch and on social media, we must remember a simple truth: referees and their families are human beings. explains the union.
Growth of online betting, lack of moderation and feeling of impunity on social networks…
The reasons for spreading such messages online are multiple, but for referees it also starts with players and coaches, who must set an example in their dealings with the men in gray.
“We know that players and coaches in our league also experience this level of hate online, but we urge these groups to recognize the power of their words, when they speak publicly, and their actions on the field. Public statements that go beyond constructive criticism, or overt aggression on the ground, can encourage individuals to threaten us and commit acts of violence against us and our families.” thus concludes the NBRA in its message.
