The Premier League has had enough of multi-millionaire players abusing its match officials.
2016/17 could have a heap of 9 vs. 7 games if referees adhere to the league’s newly-minted sanctions.
While threatening behaviour and abusive language to referees and linesmen is a punishable offence, the league wants officials to cut it out. They have set out a criterion of yellow and red card offences for the upcoming season.
- Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official
- Respond aggressively to decisions
- Confront an official face to face
- Run towards an official to contest a decision
- Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials
- Physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner (e.g. an inquisitive approach to grab the official’s attention).
- A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official. The FA will continue to sanction teams when they surround match officials.
- Red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them.
- Physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational manner.
Back in the 1980s, David Elleray agreed to be be micced up for a football documentary and, by God, did he get dog’s abuse.
Luckily, modern footballers are much nicer lads. Can’t see these sanctions being enforced at all…
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