Over 500 underage soccer matches in the Dublin region won't go ahead this weekend over the 'constant abuse' of referees.
Match officials say they have been subjected to threatening behaviour from managers, players and supporters recently.
They're withdrawing their services. The FAI says any abuse directed at refs won't be tolerated.
It will affect those in the North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League (NDSL) and Metropolitan Girls League (MGL).
FAI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Hill said: "I can assure affiliates across the country that the FAI will do whatever is needed to ensure the protection of all our referees – without them we have no game, plain and simple. The small minority of players, coaches, officials and all others guilty of such abuse need to understand that."
He went on to say; "Our disciplinary regulations carry clear and serious sanctions to be enforced on anyone who abuses a match official and we are calling on all Leagues to enforce those sanctions."
Fine Gael's spokesman for sport, and former Mayo footballer, Alan Dillon, says the problem isn't confined to soccer.
"With all sporting codes their is a certain level of lack of respect".
He says parents or guardians may at times overheat; "you would see it in GAA, you would also see it from supporters in rugby."
