THE future of an amateur Gwent football league is under threat because abusive players and spectators are driving referees away from the game.

Today refs revealed the threats and intimidation they have suffered on the pitch during Gwent Central League games as the man who runs it admitted: "We can longer protect them".

Bosses have also announced an inquiry into allegations of racial abuse from a player towards an 18-year-old referee at a match last Thursday evening.

There used to be 18 refs to cover games between 29 teams from Usk, Blaenavon and Pontypool. Now they have just five.

Abuse suffered by officials has included:

* Players punching refs when decisions don't go their way

* Drunk spectators hurling abuse from the sidelines

* Refs' clothes left in changing rooms being covered in shower gel

* Mass brawls between players and spectators

The crisis rose to new levels after two recent recruits decided they may well pull out of the league after just a couple of weeks, following constant abuse and threats from the players and supporters.

One of them, Simon Beesley, 36, from Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, said: "It's supposed to be an enjoyable game, not a battle or a war.

"If you give a decision one team doesn't like, you get the impression they will smack you.

"I'm not putting myself in that position."

On Saturday just three referees made themselves available for 14 fixtures across the two Gwent Central divisions.

Ray Griffiths, league secretary, said: "The problems represent the state of society at the moment.

"This is the start of the death of local football.

"We are seeing referees verbally abused, threatened, and even physically assaulted.

"I cannot guarantee their safety anymore.

Mr Griffiths said he believed the lack of respect Manchester United's Wayne Rooney shows to referees had an influence on players in the league, some of whom are as young as 16.

Representatives from the home teams now have to take charge of the games, fuelling abusive spectators and players, who see the unqualified, insufficiently-trained volunteers as easy targets.

Matthew Diddicott, Pontypool Town club secretary, recently stepped in to referee a match. He said: "It's 90 minutes of constant abuse.

"I've seen players swing punches at referees, and even cover their clothes in shower gel. Some of the refs just crumble."