Source: FOOTYMAD
It's Good To Talk: Wishart
Referees and players need to understand each other better and talking will make things better on the pitch. Improved communication is the key to improving a mostly "healthy respect" between players and referees according to Fraser Wishart, chief executive of PFA Scotland. Wishart was invited to St Andrews to give a presentation to officials on Sunday, in a bid to strengthen relations between his members and referees.. He was encouraged by the reception given to him and returned from Fife happy that the first step towards a better understanding between the two sides had been taken. Wishart said: "There has been dialogue with John Fleming since he took over as head of referee development at the SFA. He asked me up to speak to the referees today and I think it was successful. Generally there is a healthy respect between the players and referees, the players understand the pressures the officials are under. We just want to improve on that relationship with formal and informal meetings. The main focus of the presentation was on the way forward. We are keen for the referees to get out to the clubs and meet the players and talk to them about things like the laws of the game, any new edicts from FIFA and how they will be applied. They should explain to the players about mandatory yellow cards and other things that are discretionary. It is about more than dialogue though, it is also about both sides listening to what is being said. Today was only the start of the process but I was really pleased with the way the presentation was received."
