Scudamore - referee treatment is unacceptable

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Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has announced a crackdown on the "unacceptable" behaviour by players and managers towards referees.

"The clubs unanimously backed the idea that at the start of next season we want to raise the bar," said Scudamore.

The new campaign will target abuse of match officials as well as surrounding them and unacceptable criticism and trying to get opponents sanctioned.

The Football Association plus referees and players' groups will be consulted.

The 20 top-flight club chairmen have acted after a number of high-profile incidents this season, most recently when Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson received a five-match touchline ban for his television outburst at referee Martin Atkinson after his side's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on 1 March.

Scudamore added: "I think we do need to concentrate on the player and manager relationship with the referee this time, as every one of us knows that there have been elements of unacceptable behaviour.

"As to what we think is unacceptable; it's vitriolic abuse towards match officials and that has on occasions gone unpunished; the surrounding of referees is unacceptable; the goading of referees into trying to get opponents sanctioned we think is unacceptable; and also the undue criticism, where it spills over into questioning the referee's integrity or his honesty is also unacceptable."

Scudamore said the League Managers' Association has already signalled its support for the campaign.

"We are at a point in the game where we do have to rein back from some of this undue criticism of match officials," he continued.

"The debate will come and we will have it in consultation with managers, and remember the managers are also employed by the clubs so the unanimous support of the clubs today is important."

And Scudamore went on to discuss the responsibilities that top players have as role models.

"Footballers enjoy a privileged life," he stated.

"The contrast between what is happening in their world and what is happening in the rest of Britain, and indeed most of the world, is getting starker.

"Whether it is realistic or not they can't entirely be perfect role models, they are young males and boys can behave badly from time to time.

"But there is a point where extra responsibility comes with the territory. There are so many good things about what footballers do, so this is not us demonising them. But the mood is that things could improve."

The Premier League will also consult with the Football Association, the Professional Footballers' Association, and then the PGMO body that represents match officials.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9442760.stm

Get your referee abuse in this year seems to be the message - from next year, it's gone apparently. What does everyone think will happen? Will anything change? Is the current situation unacceptable?

I personally think a lot of the abuse could be overcome with increased use of technology. There's a lot on the line at the highest levels (indeed, at all levels) and the inability to provide the best decisions must be infuriating. I'd rather not see a lot of what goes on but getting more of the big decisions right and being able to punish bad refereeing oversights later would cut down on a lot of the tension.

Golf, rugby and cricket are often held up as games in which the officials-players relationships are better. Yes, they all have more respectful cultures - but they also all make use of video technology to try and ensure the highest standards.

Pauleta

It will last for a few weeks then the high profile players will be allowed to get involved in decisions as usual.

Kristopherus

Proper order IMHO. Something has to be done about those massively overpaid premiership bimbos thinking they can do what they like. Will be interesting, though, if the same rules will apply in the continent. If not, there could be interesting times in next year's European competitions.

Yakult

What will the consequences be next year if a player or manager gives abuse towards the ref? A fine? One match ban? Oh wait, plenty of cases this year that have been worthy of such, yet nothing was done. Doesnt set a great example and look now, it has completely blown out of proportion.

amacachi

Consistency from the refs would do more than a campaign. As soon as a player suggests a card just give him a card and everyone's happy. It wouldn't take too long for them to wise up.

partyndbs

they pay 2 much attention to criticsm they should just ignore it. refereeing in top flight football is good its when you go down the leagues is when it shows. fans are always gonna think the refs against them.

Rowley Birkin QC

Why not simply implement a similar system to rugby. To get over the positional difficulties teams nominate two players that can speak to the referee, anyone else that speaks to the ref regarding a decision is instantly booked.

When players and managers publicly criticise a ref after a game they lose points. Obviously these measures would be best implemented once technology is brought on board to cut down on terrible decisions.

I've mostly given up all but the biggest soccer matches because of the scumbaggery and diving that's part and parcel of the modern game.

Pauleta

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Why not simply implement a similar system to rugby. To get over the positional difficulties teams nominate two players that can speak to the referee, anyone else that speaks to the ref regarding a decision is instantly booked.

When players and managers publicly criticise a ref after a game they lose points. Obviously these measures would be best implemented once technology is brought on board to cut down on terrible decisions.

I've mostly given up all but the biggest soccer matches because of the scumbaggery and diving that's part and parcel of the modern game.

Down with common sense

Helix

by all means protect the refs on the park. yellow card for anyone swearing at him, yellow card for any player other than the captain who continues to speak to him after he has told them to go away. youd have about 2 weeks worth of 7 a side football, but theyd get the message pretty fast and itd ultimately be worth it

however off the pitch, they have to be accountable. managers should be able to question decisions and the referee should have to explain himself

the fa needs to decide whether they want common sense or consistency, because you cant have both in the game. refs need to either apply the exact same rules on all fronts at all times, or they need to be allowed to use their own interpretations of play

Degag

Personally, i think if a referee is wrong, then he should be allowed to be criticised. Hell, if a manager does something wrong, he'll be on the back (or front) of the paper. What makes a referee so different?

JimsAlterEgo

Helix wrote: »

by all means protect the refs on the park. yellow card for anyone swearing at him, yellow card for any player other than the captain who continues to speak to him after he has told them to go away. youd have about 2 weeks worth of 7 a side football, but theyd get the message pretty fast and itd ultimately be worth it

however off the pitch, they have to be accountable. managers should be able to question decisions and the referee should have to explain himself

the fa needs to decide whether they want common sense or consistency, because you cant have both in the game. refs need to either apply the exact same rules on all fronts at all times, or they need to be allowed to use their own interpretations of play

Totally agree, they have to earn respect. Some of the decisions they make are shocking. People would have a lot more respect if they came out and said sorry I got it wrong rather than hide behind the officialdom of the FA of "it was dealt with" crap.

Paully D

Something should be done about the unacceptable amount of decisions that referee's are getting wrong first.

The worst thing that ever happened was turning them professional.