EPL crackdown on abuse of referees
Source: Agencies |
April 2, 2011, Saturday
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HIGHLY paid footballers are becoming increasingly isolated from the real world, the head of the English Premier League said on Thursday while announcing a crackdown on bad behavior toward referees.
The 20 topflight clubs agreed to launch a campaign before next season to clean up the game in a bid to eradicate unacceptable criticism and abuse of referees by players and managers.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is still serving a five-match ban for questioning referee Martin Atkinson's integrity after losing at Chelsea this month.
And United defender Rafael da Silva was fined after confronting and appearing to swear at referee Mike Dean when he was sent off at Tottenham in January.
"Tensions and passions have been running high and there have been some very competitive games out there," said league chief executive Richard Scudamore. "There have been some things in those games that we don't like to see."
While Scudamore insisted the initiative isn't about "demonizing" players, he warned them to act more responsibly. He reminded them of their duty to fans who pay to watch matches during "austere times when most of the country is going through with necessary cutbacks to get the economy of the country back on its feet."
Worse behavior
"The behavior seems it might have gotten worse because people expect more of the privileged, professional sports stars than in the past," Scudamore said. "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 who can behave badly from time to time. But there is a point where extra responsibility comes with the territory ... the mood is that things could improve."
While bookings for dissent have decreased in the last two seasons, the perception remains that players are still out of control on the pitch and Scudamore wants them to "raise the bar" with their conduct.
"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 behavior," he said. "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."
The 20 topflight clubs agreed to launch a campaign before next season to clean up the game in a bid to eradicate unacceptable criticism and abuse of referees by players and managers.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is still serving a five-match ban for questioning referee Martin Atkinson's integrity after losing at Chelsea this month.
And United defender Rafael da Silva was fined after confronting and appearing to swear at referee Mike Dean when he was sent off at Tottenham in January.
"Tensions and passions have been running high and there have been some very competitive games out there," said league chief executive Richard Scudamore. "There have been some things in those games that we don't like to see."
While Scudamore insisted the initiative isn't about "demonizing" players, he warned them to act more responsibly. He reminded them of their duty to fans who pay to watch matches during "austere times when most of the country is going through with necessary cutbacks to get the economy of the country back on its feet."
Worse behavior
"The behavior seems it might have gotten worse because people expect more of the privileged, professional sports stars than in the past," Scudamore said. "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 who can behave badly from time to time. But there is a point where extra responsibility comes with the territory ... the mood is that things could improve."
While bookings for dissent have decreased in the last two seasons, the perception remains that players are still out of control on the pitch and Scudamore wants them to "raise the bar" with their conduct.
"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 behavior," he said. "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."
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