Sixty-one Premier League players have been booked for dissent this season amid the worrying trend of rising abuse towards referees.
Two grassroots officials bravely opened up to Mail Sport's It's All Kicking Off podcast this week about some shocking incidents they have been involved in over the years.
Both aged 25, one revealed he was threatened with a knife, while the other suffered a broken jaw after sending someone off in a five-a-side match.
Podcast co-hosts Ian Ladyman and Chris Sutton were stunned by the revelations, and agreed that football needs to take responsibility, with former Premier League winner Sutton insisting that change has to come from the very top of the game.