It looks more like a prison visit than an under-12s football fixture.
In a bid to stop young players being intimidated by parents shouting from the sidelines, spectators were instructed to watch this match at Queen Elizabeth II School’s astro pitch on Sunday from the other side of a giant fence.
One parent, who did not wish to be named, told the Examiner: ‘This has really annoyed me. We were refused entry to the pitches by an official who said it was a new IoMFA directive. This meant a morning spent outside a wire mesh enclosure, turning it into something closer to what I imagine a prison visit to be like.
‘One of the parents who wore glasses had a difficult morning even seeing the games due to the difficulty of focusing through the mesh.
‘At the start of the season, all parents had to sign a declaration to “behave” on the sidelines. We were not even given the courtesy of an explanation – simply refused entry to the pitch.
‘If this is the IoMFA reacting to the behaviour of some parents by taking the easy way out by banning everyone, then that is simply wrong, to ban all because of a few. Ban the parent, not the player and certainly don’t penalise every parent.’
Sunday’s fixture at QEII saw under-12 teams from Ramsey, Ayre, Colby and Peel playing in two league games and a friendly.
Mikey Allison and John Batty, co-chairmen of the IOMFA Junior Football League, issued a statement to the Examiner.
It reads: ‘With junior football, the most important person is the child playing.
‘At all ages, but particularly at the younger ages, children can find adults standing on the touch line to be very intimidating.
‘There are rules which all clubs and coaches are aware of, that spectators must stand away from the touch line and not behind the goals at the regional astro pitches. In addition the only people allowed in the centre between the two pitches are coaches of the respective teams playing.
‘Unfortunately over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of incidents where parents have encroached onto the line, behind the goal, and in a number of instances shouted abuse at opposing coaches and referees.
‘We have consistently reminded coaches of their responsibilities towards the parents of their teams, but some clubs, and/or parents have ignored this.
‘Consequently, we decided to ban anyone who was not either the registered coach of a team playing, or a league official. This was not taken lightly, and the priority is that the children can enjoy their football in a safe stress-free environment.
‘As regards the NSC, there is a natural barrier and all parents must stay behind this. At the Bowl, only coaches are allowed anywhere on the pitch.’
It concludes: ‘It’s a shame, but as in a lot of things in life, the actions of a few spoil the enjoyment of the many.
‘We will be discussing this at the next League Management Committee meeting and if we could get the guaranteed observance of the rules designed to maximise children’s enjoyment of the game we will reconsider.’