FA chief executive Brian Barwick is to launch a major grass-roots pilot scheme aimed at getting players to show more respect to referees.
The organisation is alarmed at the growing trend of abuse towards officials, and realises that unless drastic action is taken, a drop-off in the number of people willing to take up whistle-blowing duties will cause major problems for the game as a whole.
Although Barwick acknowledges the issue affects the highest levels of the game as much as the lowest, he believes methods introduced at grass-roots can have a huge impact.
The three main components of the pilot scheme to be launched in nine regions from next January are:
- Only the team captain will be allowed to speak with the referee.
- Roped-off areas will be introduced at junior matches so 'over-indulgent or abusive' parents cannot direct their bile at the referee.
- All players and club officials will be forced to sign a 'memorandum of understanding' noting the standards of behaviour that will be expected."These things are done better through discussion rather than a big stick but we want to stop the situation getting out of hand," said Barwick.
"There is a lot of emotion and passion in the game but you only have to look at a sport like rugby to see there seems to be a certain level of respect for the officials.
"That sets a marker down for our game because the treatment of referees is a really serious issue and something we have to deal with."
Barwick's stance has been backed by England coach Steve McClaren, who was once forced to resign as president of a local club because of the behaviour of parents.
"If you do not have discipline you are not in control, if you are not in control it can cost you the game," he observed.
"In my opinion, this thing has to start at the bottom.
"In my experience, over many years of coaching, the players coming through are less disciplined every year and instilling the discipline required into them is getting harder and harder."
