Referee assaulted during match in Aalborg calls for stronger measures against violence

A 66-year-old referee, Anders Dalmark Hedegaard from Vodskov, recently recounted an incident during a Serie 5 match in Aalborg that left him shocked. While officiating a game between IF Haabet and Øster Sundby B32 in June, he awarded a penalty to the home team, prompting an aggressive player to rush at him, resulting in Hedegaard being knocked to the ground.

This is not an isolated case. Two weeks prior, a furious father attacked a 77-year-old referee during a U13 match in Zealand, leaving him with significant injuries, including a black eye and broken fingers.

Michael Kristensen, chairman of the Vendsyssel Football Referee Club, called for the Danish Football Association (DBU) and clubs to take stronger measures to curb violence against referees. He proposed that clubs develop a set of values outlining acceptable behavior for players, coaches, and spectators. Kristensen emphasized the need for harsher sanctions against clubs that fail to manage their members effectively, suggesting increased fines instead of just temporary suspensions for offenders.

Statistics show that the atmosphere toward referees has deteriorated over recent years, with reported incidents of harassment against referees in North Jutland rising from 18 in 2018 to 40 in 2024.

Despite his experience of being assaulted on the field, Hedegaard remains determined to continue officiating. He has already refereed 176 matches this year and over 3,000 throughout his career. After the incident, he refocused on his commitment to the sport, stating that no player should dictate whether he continues to referee. The incident has been reported to the police, and the player involved now faces charges. IF Haabet has been fined 2,000 kroner, and the player received a six-month ban. The DBU Jylland insists that clubs must be accountable for their spectators, regardless of the match location.