Soccer Portal

Respect, that was the word.  We were promised that managers and players were going to respect the officials.  It is an official campaign, players wear arm bands with the logo on, there was lots of publicity, but the problem is there have been lots of incidents where no heed at all is paid to any form of respect aligned to decent human behaviour.  Why is football so unlike the majority of other sports where the official’s word is final and there is no violent argument from the players?  Modern technology assists in tennis, cricket, rugby etc where a decision is disputed, thereby providing a fair method of raising the question and getting it resolved without vitriol or bitterness.

Players have been performing with terrible antics.  Shouting and swearing at officials with their face contorted in rage.  Surrounding officials at, ‘contentious decisions’, on occasions actually manhandling them, (which should be an instant dismissal), and my personal pet hate, waving imaginary cards to get fellow professionals booked or sent off.  Players try simulation; diving; and sly ‘professional fouls’ in a win at all cost mentality.  Such incidents should be dealt with far more strictly, (and consistently), by the referees.  The FA should have no hesitation in imposing proper sanctions; our beautiful game is being spoiled by this behaviour.  Commentators do not help either.  I hate the phrase, ‘he took that yellow card for the team’, when a promising move is broken up in a cynical fashion.  To say that the player had no option to commit the foul is almost condoning it as a means to an end.

Managers have been disciplined for outbursts against referees, the latest high profile one being Sir Alex Ferguson receiving a five-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson following Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea.

Referees

This is a two way street.  Some referees display an ‘untouchable’ attitude and do not have the respect for the players to explain their decisions, waving them away derisorily.  They could be interviewed after games to give them an opportunity to explain decisions, especially those deemed as particularly contentious.  Decisions do change games and could have a massive impact on a team’s fortunes, let us know why the decision was made.  Managers have said that they have approached referees after the game to get such an explanation but the referee refused to talk to them.  Football is a game of opinions, even if the manager’s or the general public’s view is different to the referee’s after listening to them, there must be the respect due to the official.  There are some high profile referees, some of whom you dread officiating matches involving your team, or make you watch other matches with a special focus on the official.  Referees, you should perform your role as unobtrusively as possible, don’t be the story yourself.  Another recent phenomenon is retired referees commenting on previous events and incidents on TV and in newspapers.  It is interesting to hear their views and they go some way in interpreting the minefield which are the rules, but they do not have the impact of hearing it from the match official who made the decision.

We are now told that there is to be a new crackdown on unacceptable behaviour towards officials from the start of next season.  It is ironic that Ferguson has shown a lack of respect to the Premier League and criticised this new enforcement of the campaign already, saying that managers do not disrespect referees.  Why wait until next season, the Respect campaign is still current isn’t it?  If there is to be respect, the Premier League must grasp the nettle and start enforcing the rules and dealing with transgressions consistently now.

Setting an example

I believe that the example should come from the top.  The behaviour of managers and especially players is copied by others, the most obvious being that player’s actions are seen as acceptable and the norm by some people playing at all levels, including kids.  If you are a professional footballer idolised by thousands of young people you must realise you have a moral responsibility.  Stories about Mario Balotelli allegedly throwing at least one dart out of an upstairs window near to some academy players below at the Manchester City training ground does not help the image of the modern footballer.  Late night binges, bust ups between players whilst away on, ‘bonding’ or team building breaks, players fighting on the training ground having to be separated by team mates.  But I digress, let’s return to R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Pressure about results

I understand there is immense pressure on players and especially managers.  There is a must win mentality, they are judged on results, and there is very little patience displayed by some owners.  There are massive financial implications, especially when you talk about relegation from the Premier League.  Some managers are constantly looking over their shoulder fearing the sack, there must be a balance though, sometimes referees make mistakes, but sometimes managers must face up to the fact that their teams lose because they did not play well.

The Premier League will consult the League Managers' Association, the FA, the Professional Footballers' Association, and then the representative body that represents match officials in an effort to get the campaign back on track.

Solution

Let’s look at the perfect solution.  All participants in football, players, managers, officials and fans should look at themselves and change their behaviour and attitude.   Firstly, refereeing is a difficult job, but referees, try and reciprocate the respect the other way.  If you are a senior player, don’t assume you can approach and argue with the referee as a matter of right.  All players; play the game by the rules even if it means not winning every game.  Established managers, don’t try and influence referees by public statements about fairness and decisions made by the same referee in previous matches before games, it doesn’t help.  Fans, referees are human like you and I, they do and will make mistakes.  As long as the decision making process is open and transparent; it will go a long way to the improvement of everything about football.