As the football season starts its climactic close, the Premier League launch yet another ‘crackdown’ on ‘unacceptable behaviour’ by players and managers towards referees.
It is genuinely hard to disagree with the intent of this. Anyone who watched a referee run away from a pack of Chelsea players or saw Rooney calling linesman after linesman a ‘fucking wanker’ in his face can share the sentiment that a ‘crackdown’ might be needed.
But the fact remains that there are far too many terrible decisions that have been made this season. I’m not saying that it has necessarily got any worse (Di Canio proves that all by himself), but the way football is viewed, through a hundred different angles in a hundred different countries, certainly has changed and the game needs to keep up.
Every schoolboy knows that the teachers you do your homework for are the ones that command respect; being fair, even handed and approachable while being strict when they have to be. The ones on power trips, who shout about the slightest of things and are just plain bad teachers have the noisiest classrooms and no one gives them an ounce of respect.
“Respect’ – the name given to the FA’s campaign for better treatment of referees - is something that works both ways. Deserve respect, and you will command respect. Some of the decisions in high profile games this year simply do not demand any respect from players. Should Robin Van Persie show Massimo Busacca any respect? Or Mendes have any faith in a linesman making a good call?
When Alex Ferguson (with care, said through an advisor…) likens the FA to a communist state, I can see why he’s frustrated. By silencing even fairly mild mannered criticism they come across like a body who rather than address the problem of poor referring decisions, would prefer to ignore it and punish anyone who dares raise their voice in dissent. Avram Grant facing a disciplinary hearing for calling Mike Jones ‘weak’? That smacks of using a soviet hammer crack a mild mannered nut.
Governing bodies need to make referees far more accountable for their actions. Apologise publically if they get a big decision wrong. The ability to appeal a second yellow card. More demotion and promotion to get the best referees at the top. And the realisation that accepting some criticism is a fact of life, particularly when the stakes are as high as the emotions are running.
This would not undermine referees as the FA and Premier League fear, but it would strengthen them. They would deserve more respect and therefore the players would undoubtedly who more respect. And when they don’t, a crackdown would be on far surer ground.
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