Source: Daily_Mail
FA tell managers: Stop trying to psyche out referees before matches
Managers have been banned from making pre-match comments about referees in a radical tightening up of the Respect campaign.
The new Football Association clampdown announced last night is aimed at easing pressure on officials and will take effect this season.
A tougher line will also be taken on after-match interviews where bosses question the integrity of referees by implying bias, and clubs can be charged for mass confrontations with referees even if the incident has not been reported by the officials.
But the main thrust of the crackdown is a warning that managers will be punished for improper conduct should they put the referee in the spotlight ahead of a game. An FA
statement said: ‘Any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed — such
pre-match comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly.’
Post-match comments are permitted ‘provided they are not personal in their nature, imply bias or attack the integrity’ of officials.
If the system had been in operation last season, Everton manager David Moyes would almost certainly have been charged and fined for his inflammatory remark suggesting referee Mike Riley was a Manchester United fan before the FA Cup semi-final between the sides.
But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also has plenty of form in applying pre-match pressure to officials.
Now the FA will stop the managerial mind games. Bosses are to be encouraged to make no comment on referees, even those in praise of them, which can also be deemed to be psychologically motivated.
There will be no attempt to censor fair comment on an official’s display. He can be safely criticised for individual decisions and his overall performance, but the FA aim to
eradicate accusations of bias.
Ganging up on referees by ‘three or more players’ can also lead to a club being charged, and bans for dangerous challenges can be increased from three matches in severe cases. Normally, up to three will be tacked on, but FA sources say there is no limit.
