As a former active referee, whenever I was go to give a red card, I always gave myself 2 to 3 times the distance. If the person makes so much of a step towards me, I back pedal almost frantically. 9/10 times the person gets defensive that they were not going to hit me. I am not sure if that is true if I hadn't done that. Most times I get surrounded by the opposing team rather quickly and the players own team holds him back. There have been times when all of this happens before I even show the red card. I also never take my eyes of a player. I almost learn this lesson the hard way. Thankfully I was with a really exp. AR and actually wrestled the guy who charged me. It was the closets I came to be assaulted. Furthermore, I never say or do anything to antagonized; even if they come to me after the game.
I reffed some club games in college and when I was in Europe.....but I never reffed again after getting cursed at threatened and spat on at my son's THIRD GRADE match when I stepped in to sub. Because some parents didn't like my foul calls. Oy vey. Someone needed a life...and it wasn't me.