GRAHAM POLL: Until Steven Gerrard and co start showing Respect, the FA are fighting a losing battle

27 September 2010 11:43
On Sunday, I completed the FA level one coaching badge. The course is excellent and covers all the basic requirements for coaches, primarily in youth football, to set up and run a team in a safe and fun environment, with a heavy emphasis on the FA's Respect programme.[LNB]In the league my son's team play in we have to put cones out to keep the parents back from the touchline and provide a level-headed adult to act as a match delegate. It is the person the referee can turn to if he is having issues with unruly parents or an angry coach.[LNB] Something's missing: The FA have struggled to win their Respect battle[LNB]    More from Graham Poll... Graham Poll: Bungler Stuart Attwell must take a break after his latest gaffes26/09/10 Graham Poll: We need ruthless refs as time really is no laughing matter20/09/10 Graham Poll - The Official Line: Blunder refs should have spotted key incidents19/09/10 Graham Poll: Do Arsenal need more protection from referees? No way!16/09/10 Graham Poll: I was wrong at Everton... and 10 years later, so did Atkinson13/09/10 Graham Poll - The Official Line: Attwell is not ready to ref in the Premier League12/09/10 Graham Poll: Why it's time to follow the Aussies to clamp down on cheats06/09/10 GRAHAM POLL: There's nothing wrong with using your physical presence in the box, Arsene26/08/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE All of these measures are sensible and take a lot of time and effort. The FA has spent a lot of time, money and manpower to set up these courses and measures, and it should be congratulated for doing so.[LNB]But hang on a minute. Did you watch a game at the weekend? [LNB]If you did, then whatever level it is at you will have witnessed players and spectators failing to show proper respect to the match officials as set out in the Respect programme. [LNB]In just one example, I saw Steven Gerrard - England's recent captain no less - shouting obscenities at referee Stuart Attwell. [LNB]Gerrard was not alone. And yet not one player was dismissed this weekend for abusive language. None have been all season.[LNB]On my course, the fellow students all cited Premier League behaviour as their biggest frustration when trying to coach young players and asked why top refs don't send them off. In doing so they are undoing all of that excellent work down at grass roots level because, as we all know, kids copy their idols.[LNB]Why spend all that money on fair play banners, badges and expensive videos when it would cost them nothing to tell referees at the top level to apply law and send players off when they clearly and openly abuse them?[LNB]It's a question to which there is no satisfactory answer. It is purely because the FA defer to the Premier League in the guise of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). It is complete dereliction of duty that let's every football lover down.[LNB] Abuse: Referee Stuart Attwell books Steven Gerrard at Anfield on Saturday[LNB]When I refereed in the Premier League, I thought I was doing the right thing by ignoring or managing player's excesses. Management never pulled me up for doing so, in fact they encouraged it. [LNB]Now I am looking at it from a completely different level and I realise how wrong we all were. Handshakes and fair play badges, programmes and campaigns are all well and good. [LNB]But actions speak louder than words.   [LNB] Good week forOlder refsBad week for...Me [LNB]Several old boys controlled games without fuss or controversy. Mark Halsey had the Wolves v Aston Villa game - the two teams who, prior to this fixture, had given away more free kicks than any other in the Premier League. Earlier Phil Dowd reffed Bolton v Manchester United really well. Both performances proved that you don't have to be a racehorse to control a game. You just need the required experience and ability.[LNB]As a QPR fan, I should be on top of the world after our best start to the season since 1947. I should be celebrating - yet my joy is held back due to my feelings towards our manager Neil Warnock. I was hassled by him on many occasions and have written about his disgraceful undermining of officials. However, I have to acknowledge that he is probably the best boss at this level. I wish him success - and boy does that hurt.[LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail