FAs In The UK To Introduce Official Supporter Licences: Adults Must Pass Theory Test Before Watching Youth Football
The Football Associations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have come together and today announced one of the most significant changes to grassroots football in the history of the game. From the start of the 2026/27 season, any parent, guardian, or family member wishing to watch a youth football match anywhere in the United Kingdom will be required to hold a valid Official Supporter Licence (OSL) before being permitted to stand on a touchline.
The announcement follows a three-year review conducted by the joint FA's Grassroots Welfare & Spectator Conduct Division, which gathered data from over 4,200 clubs, 18,000 coaches, and 6,700 referees, 94% of whom described touchline behaviour from parents as either "a consistent problem" or "the primary reason I am considering leaving the game entirely."
"This is not a decision we have taken lightly," said Joint FA Chief Spectator Conduct Officer Bea Kwyett in a statement released this morning. "Youth football in this country is the foundation of everything we build. It should be a safe, enjoyable, and positive environment for every child on that pitch. The data tells us, clearly and repeatedly, that adult behaviour on the touchline remains one of the greatest threats to that environment. The Official Supporter Licence is our response."
Why Now?
The FA's internal research, conducted between 2023 and 2025, painted a stark picture of the current state of touchline culture across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Among the key findings:
- 1 in 3 referees under the age of 18 reported considering quitting due to abuse from parents
- 72% of youth coaches reported at least one incident per season requiring them to directly intervene in a confrontation involving a spectating adult
- Touchline-related match abandonments rose by 31% between 2022 and 2025
- The most common phrase heard on youth football touchlines in the UK, recorded across all age groups from U6 to U18, was "SHOOT!" — shouted in situations where shooting was, by any tactical measure, inadvisable
"We have tried codes of conduct," said Kwyett. "We have tried awareness campaigns, like Silent Support Weekends. We have tried polite notices on noticeboards that nobody reads. It is time for a more structured approach."
What Is the Official Supporter Licence?
The OSL is a formal qualification, free of charge to all applicants, that must be completed before the start of each season. It will be administered online and will consist of three components:
1. The Theory Test
A 40-question multiple-choice assessment covering key areas of touchline conduct, child welfare, and basic football knowledge. Applicants must score 32 out of 40 to pass.
2. The Character Reference
All applicants must submit two character references — one from a current or former youth football coach, and one from a match official — confirming that the applicant has demonstrated appropriate conduct at a youth fixture within the past 12 months.
Applicants who have never previously attended a youth match may substitute the referee reference for a letter from a school teacher, GP, or local councillor confirming general suitability to stand near children without shouting.
3. The Practical Observation Period
In the first season of the licence rollout, all newly qualified OSL holders will be required to complete a two-match silent observation period, during which they may not speak, gesture, or in any way communicate with players, officials, or other spectators. A club-appointed Touchline Steward will oversee compliance.
From Season 2 onwards, verbal communication will be permitted, within the guidelines outlined in the OSL Code of Conduct.
Sample Theory Test Questions
The FAs have released a selection of sample questions from the OSL Theory Test to help parents begin preparing.
Question 4: Your child's team is awarded a corner. The correct response is:
- A) Shout "GET IT IN THE BOX" repeatedly until the corner is taken
- B) Stand quietly and trust that the coach has prepared the team for this situation
- C) Walk to the corner flag to provide closer instruction
- D) Remind your child loudly that they "always bottle it at corners"
Question 9: The referee awards a throw-in to the opposing team. You believe this is incorrect. You should:
- A) Inform the referee, at volume, that they "need glasses"
- B) Appeal directly to the linesperson using language inappropriate for a children's sporting event
- C) Accept the decision, recognising that referees are human, often teenagers, and doing their best
- D) Begin a detailed retrospective analysis of all incorrect decisions made in the previous 40 minutes
Question 14: Your child has just received the ball in a dangerous position. The coach on the opposite touchline shouts "HOLD IT UP." You should:
- A) Immediately counter with "SHOOT!" to provide your child with a balanced tactical perspective
- B) Remain silent and allow the coaching team to manage the session
- C) Question the opposing coach's tactical approach at full volume
- D) Walk onto the pitch to demonstrate the correct technique yourself
Question 21: At half-time, the coach is addressing the players. You should:
- A) Join the huddle to add your own observations from the touchline
- B) Use the opportunity to pull your child aside for a separate, private tactical debrief
- C) Stand at an appropriate distance and allow the coach to do their job
- D) Loudly agree or disagree with points as they are made, to demonstrate engagement
Question 27: The match referee is a 14-year-old completing their first independent match as part of their FA Young Referee programme. You should:
- A) Treat them with the same respect you would afford any match official, recognising the courage it takes to referee at any level
- B) Adjust your expectations accordingly, but still feel entitled to challenge decisions you disagree with
- C) Inform them after the match that they "should have given more added time"
- D) Remind your child that "the ref is having a nightmare" loud enough for the referee to hear
Question 33: Your child's team loses 6-1. In the car on the way home, the most appropriate response is:
- A) A detailed breakdown of every individual error, with particular focus on the goals conceded
- B) Ask your child how they felt the game went, and follow their lead on how much to discuss it
- C) Question whether the coach's formation was appropriate given the opposition's obvious strengths
- D) Compare the performance unfavourably to a match from three seasons ago when they won
The Character Reference: What Coaches and Referees Will Be Asked
The FA has confirmed that character references will follow a structured template. Coaches and referees providing references will be asked to assess the applicant across five key areas, rated from 1 to 5:
- Conduct during matches — Does the applicant remain calm and respectful throughout?
- Acceptance of official decisions — Does the applicant accept referee rulings without protest?
- Interaction with opposition players and parents — Does the applicant behave respectfully toward all parties?
- Behaviour toward coaching staff — Does the applicant refrain from unsolicited tactical input?
- Post-match conduct — Does the applicant model positive behaviour for young players after the final whistle?
Any applicant scoring below 3 in two or more categories will be required to complete an additional FA Touchline Behaviour Workshop before their licence can be issued. The workshops run for four hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings and, the FAs confirm, clashes intentionally with most local kickoff times.
Referees who wish to flag specific individuals as requiring additional scrutiny may do so via a confidential reporting portal, which the FA has quietly confirmed already has a waiting list of submissions.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The joint FAs have been keen to stress that the OSL is not about punishment — it is about culture change. That said, they have also been quite specific about the punishments.
Attending a youth football fixture without a valid OSL from the start of the 2026/27 season will result in the following:
- First offence: Removal from the touchline, a formal written warning issued to the club, and what the FA describes as "a strongly worded letter." Recipients have been advised it will be very strongly worded indeed.
- Second offence: A 28-day touchline ban, enforceable across all affiliated clubs in the county. The FA notes that this will feel significantly longer than 28 days if your child scores their first ever goal during this period. They accept no responsibility for this.
- Third offence: Full suspension for the remainder of the season, plus mandatory completion of the FA Respect Refresher Programme which will involve four hours on a Saturday morning in a community centre that is slightly too cold, sitting on a plastic chair, watching a DVD that was filmed in 2009, with a facilitator who has heard every excuse you are about to give and is completely unmoved by all of them. Attendance is compulsory. Biscuits will not be provided.
Clubs found to have permitted unlicensed spectators will face a £50 fine per incident, rising to £150 for repeat breaches — a figure that, the FA points out, is still considerably less than the cost of a Premier League away day, and yet somehow requires less shouting.
Enforcement will be carried out by County FA welfare officers, supported by club-appointed Touchline Stewards — a volunteer role that, the FA confirms, has so far attracted exactly zero expressions of interest nationwide.
How to Apply
Applications for the Official Licence will open on 1st June 2026 via the website of each of the national FAs, and will incur an initial £49 one-off administration fee. The theory test will take approximately 35 minutes to complete. Results will be issued immediately, and successful applicants will receive a digital licence valid for the 2026/27 season, renewable annually at a cost of £19. Supporters will also be issued with an Official Licenced Supporter armband that must be worn at all times whilst at games.
The FA has strongly encouraged all parents to begin reflecting on their touchline behaviour now, ahead of the application window opening.
"Take a moment," said Bea Kwyett. "Think about the last match you attended. Think about what you said, how you said it, and whether — if you saw another adult behaving exactly as you did — you would consider that acceptable. For most parents, we know the answer is yes. For some, we hope this process prompts a genuinely useful moment of reflection."
The full OSL framework, including the complete theory test question bank, character reference templates, and Touchline Steward guidance, will be published on each FA's website in May 2026.
Remember, it's the children's game, and we're just there to help them enjoy it and have fun with their friends. And don't be a fool! Especially on April 1st. 😉
#RespectTheGame
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