I see that the England manager thinks that referees tolerate too much abuse. How disappointing (at least to me) to find that that's not because he sees anything wrong with abuse of referees (perhaps he does, but he doesn't say so) but because it doesn't prepare his team for playing in Europe, where referees are much stricter.

At the top level, in this particular context, I think it's apt. Referees, and the governing bodies have all the tools available to reduce it.

The players abuse the referees because of their desire to win - it's a reaction to the referee doing something that impacts their ability to win. To stop the abuse, you need to provide a punishment that further impacts their ability to win. A few posters and tweets isn't going to do it.

Yellow cards, moving free kicks 10 yards, suspensions. The tools are all there, and they work in other sports. Football just inexplicably doesn't use them. It's mad that a player can get sent off for lightly brushing heads with an opponent but get nothing for a tirade of abuse at an official - demonstrated by that Ipswich referee leaning towards physical action rather than a sanction to stop it. If they want to stop it, why is telling a referee to f off not an automatic sanction of some sort?

Grassroots is more complex, but grassroots definitely won't stop if the elite can get away with it.

26th January 2010 - Enter Administration
2nd May 2010 - D-Day 1 - Survival at Hillsborough
1st June 2010 - D-Day 2 - Survival at Lloyds
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Rugby referees tend to only speak to the captain and only to the players to tell them what they’ve done wrong.
If players stopped trying to con refs all the time they’d have more sympathy when they complain about wrong decisions. The pundits don’t help when they praise players for “clever play” when they find a trailing leg to fall over.

An issue here is that the rugby reffing of the six nations was blatantly wrong. I presume they couldn't let Wales fail, as what would Wales have left?
Aside from the respect part, the rugby reffing is absolute pants and affects the game much worse than football.
I honestly think the reffing of the last six nations is the worst I've ever seen. The Maradona handball was less blatant.
However, the refs are shown respect. They would card someone for rudeness no problem. They might get the wrong person but hey, ho - someone pays.

Red and Blue Army!

Related topic:

Many years ago the son of a very good friend of mine played first class rugby in England and France, and in fact twice for England. I was shocked when he told me that English premiership referees routinely addressed players by their first name. Being a very old fart (even then), I concluded that the country was going to the dogs, familiarity breeds contempt, and it would all end in tears.

I have to admit I've been converted. Wayne Barnes is a good example of the modern method. He smiles, respects the players, and always seems completely in control. You can even hear him thanking a player (by name) when that player has, for example, resisted the temptation to stray offside. You almost get the impression that he and the players are co-operating to provide a good game. Respect is the key, but both referees and players have to earn it.

Usually the rot comes from the top.

Will the FA defend a strict referee ?

remember the footage of Ashley Cole making a t1t of himself with one of the famous referees ? anybody got the link on youtube ?

Edited by PalazioVecchio (14 Apr 2021 8.31pm)

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford