Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse includes frequent threatening, taunting or sarcastic behaviour, withholding affection or being extremely over-protective. It includes racist, sexist or homophobic behaviour and demeaning initiation ceremonies. It can be inflicted by other children and young people as well as by adults. Children and young people who are being abused or bullied in any way will also experience emotional abuse. In football, coaches or parents are emotionally abusing children and young people if they constantly criticise, abuse their power, or impose unrealistic pressure to perform to a high standard. It may also occur if a club allows members to deride people with disabilities or from minority cultures and use derogatory language about them.