Ok, I'm new here but have been referreeing for about 10 yrs off and on. What do you all do with parents, that want to curse you in Spanish, I don't speak fluently but speak enough to know what is being said about myself, and the other officials, along with our families. I would prefer not to address the comments directly. I turned around, at a stoppage in play(I was on the line) and in my best spanish said I understand you very well, no more. I heard a few more comments bad call but nothing insulting. Your help or expieriences are appreciated.
that's usually all it takes, they are doing because they think they can, by letting them know you understand, it cuts it off, usually.
Sounds like a good first step you employed there. As NHRef pointed out, usually that's enough to stop them, just with the surprise to them that they're not getting away with what they thought they were. I don't think this situation should be handled any differently than if it were in english. A quick address to them first to instruct them to stop. If it doesn't stop then have a word with the coach. In most leagues, the team is responsible for the conduct of their spectators.
After a college game, I have a European player very upset about a call/non-call late in the game. After the end of the game, he really laid into us--from about 4-5 yards. I looked at him and said, "You know, it doesn't count if I don't know what you said." I turned and walked away. Didn't hear another word from him.
Actually knowing the exact translation of what might have been said isn't always strictly necessary. The tone and method of the communication (both verbal and non-verbal) should also be taken into consideration. Language can be abusive simply by tone and delivery. I might be saying "I hope your grandmother has a safe journey and arrives well" but if I'm screaming it at the top of my lungs with neck veins bulging and waving my hands in the air three feet from the referee...AND IN ALBANIAN (or something not likely understood)...that would qualify as abusive (or at least a caution for dissent). Seriously...when I was nineteen and twenty I lived in Atlanta and did some mens over-35 games where it really was like Ethiopia vs Greece and Poland vs Tunisia where sometimes all three officials spoke communicable English. Controlling the environment of your match is important to the professionalism of referees and also to engender respect for your authority. Allowing players or coaches to yell in your general direction (and probably gesticulate) does not promote respect, confidence and cooperation from those players and coaches. Spectators, on the other hand, generally get to yell whatever they like at me as long as it's not directed towards opposing players. Yes, of course I'm blind...that's why I couldn't read the LOTG in the first place and also don't know the first thing about how many "high kicks" I missed and so on. I go to baseball games and yell at the umps myself.