A team of 8-year-old soccer players in southern Sweden was suspended after several upset parents chased a teenage referee around the field, The Local reported Monday.
The parents were angry at what they thought was a bad decision by the 16-year-old referee at the game in Malmo.
Youth referee trainer Bujar Fetio was also attacked and threatened when he tried to intervene.
"We have to do something to show that they [the parents] can't behave like this," Fetio told broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT).
"In a couple of years, it will be hard to recruit referees if we get more of these types of incidents."
The team was suspended for the rest of their spring season in order to show support for referees.
"You have to try to keep a distance and remember that this is junior football. It is not exactly the World Cup final," said Hakan Palm, father of a seven-year-old player.
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