A soccer club in Youghal says referees are fearful of what could happen every time they set foot on a pitch.
RedFM News has previously highighted how the abuse some referees are getting in Cork is resulting in games being cancelled.
Youghal United are taking a zero tolerance approach to abuse from the sidelines and have launched Referee Awareness Month for November.
Members of the club now face being fined or even barred if they abuse referees and officials.
Over 13,000 underage players will be impacted this weekend after two leagues in Dublin postponed over 500 games following abuse of officials.
Speaking to RedFM News, manager of the Youghal United senior team Mossie Clohessy says Cork teams are keen to avoid that disruption.
"Referees have fear now going on to the pitch because of abuse, understandable at this stage with everything that's going on and happening in Dublin at the moment.
"Without referees this game is impossible.
"The fun level has gone out, referees would love to go into a game and enjoy refereeing a game as well.
"The decisions that they make, they don't go everyone's way. I know the referee only sees it from one angle, and everyone else sees it from another angle.
"I think it's coming from the players and the coaches, and I think the players react to that then on the field."
