THE WORST of what sport has to offer was on show in an East Gippsland Aussie rules clash last weekend, when the central umpire was forced to prematurely end the match after multiple punches were thrown and a player sent off at the start of the second quarter.

That a match was required to be terminated not halfway through should already raise eyebrows, but it was what happened after which highlighted the truly ugly side of footy fandom.

And a growing trend within Australian sport.

A 17-year-old was the umpire in charge for the Swan Reach v Buchan contest. After he had no choice but to call an end to the match, the young whistle-blower was then forced to barricade himself in the dressing rooms.

A person who claimed to be the father of the teenager, told 3AW Radio the president of one of the clubs stormed the field after the match and began abusing his son.

That continued as the youngster went to the dressing rooms, where he had to lock himself inside away from a booing crowd of players and spectators, before police were called.

The young umpire reportedly called his Dad from the rooms and told him "this is my last game, I can't do this any more”.

Fair decision, really. Who would want to be an umpire, if that is what you are faced with?

Thuggery on a football field is one of those guilty pleasures many sports fans - myself included - take in with one eye open.

I would be lying if I told you I hadn't gone back to watch old school State of Origin fist fights, or a replay of the infamous "Line in the sand” match.

How many people made light of the recent brawl between the Australian and Philippines basketball teams? Those images swept across screens and newspapers around the world. In public those images were condemned, but in private many shared a laugh.

These recent events, punctuated by what happened in East Gippsland, are not new to Australian sport.

But the fact it still occurs is the problem.

Where there is competition, there is an apparent pseudo acceptance of violence.

People try to explain away these kinds of occurrences as "heat of the moment” or "showing passion”.

But there is nothing passionate about a fist fight. And certainly not abuse of an umpire.

Consider the circumstances which led to a 17-year-old needing to flee an angry mob.

A club official was at the fore. Players involved themselves as well. All over a local footy match. Now another young official has been lost to the game as a result.

There is a mob mentality associated with sport the likes of which is rarely seen in other aspects of modern society.

It is easier to lend your voice to a chorus of discontent, than stand against it.

When I was younger and went to the footy, I was easily led by the actions of older fans.

When my grandfather told me I needed to hate Collingwood, I hated Collingwood. When my friends told me Manly was the team to go against in the NRL, I barracked for whoever the Sea Eagles were facing that week.

These are just minor examples of a growing problem.

How many kids witnessed the abuse of a young umpire for simply doing his job?

An umpire who refused to be bullied by older men with bruised fists and egos.

Hopefully any lessons kids at the ground learned that day came from the actions of the umpire, and not the players and officials who should have known better.