Match officials will “rigorously” manage: dissent; offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards officials; physical contact with officials; surrounding match officials; and, conduct in technical areas.
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Martin Glenn, FA chief executive, said: “We welcome this joint initiative with the Premier League and EFL to promote positive behaviour across the game”.
“I felt an element of it was not right”, Scudamore said.
“We’re looking to make a step change in the way our participants behave and how they are seen around the world”, Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore said after showing the compilation of incidents of indiscipline at a former London courthouse on Wednesday.
“We still want to see the passion fans enjoy and demand, but players and managers have to be aware there are lines that should not be crossed”.
“English football relies on its officials and anything we can do to protect and promote the work of our 28,000 referees in this country is to be supported”.
Yellow cards will be shown to players who show visibly disrespectful behaviour, respond aggressively to decisions, confront an official face to face or run towards an official to contest a decision.
A yellow card for physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner (e.g.an inquisitive approach to grab the official’s attention).
What about sending-off offences?
The conduct of referees also comes under the microscope, with officials now under orders to refrain from physical conduct with players or risk their impartiality being questioned by seemingly to be overly friendly.
Match officials will also be told to avoid appearing to be over familiar with players and coaches, by embracing them, for example.
These new, stricter rules should mean that the English Football League will see less abuse given towards officials from players on the pitch.
Managers infringe, too, what sanctions do they face?
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The requirements of the Technical Area Code of Conduct will be more rigorously enforced for players and club staff. Bellowing at the fourth official will no longer be tolerated, while the match officials will be required to keep a degree of distance.
