Rule change

[fbm]

Yesterday Keith Hackett announced that any players swearing at Refs would now be shown a straight red card.

In an ideal world, I think they want to stamp out the sort of "in-yer-face" intimidation previously dished out by Manchester Buccaneers and Arsenal in particular.

But there are bound to be jobsworth type refs (mainly reffing in league one no doubt) that will show a player a red card for someone saying "Oi, Ref, did you see that f...ing foul?", or "F... me, ref, what was that for?".

If that is actually what happens, how long before a team, losing say 2-0 with 10 minutes to go in a game against their closest rivals, spark a mass brawl or all start swearing at the ref so they go down to 7 players and the game is abandoned?

Also, how many games do we think that Kevin Maher is going to finish this season? This could seriously affect us as he just cannot keep his mouth shut.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Refs in our league will bottle it, they dont give hand ball for god sake.

 

[* ORM *]

Have you heard Kev swear at the ref ?

 

[Bucks_blue]

I thought this rule already existed. I thought you could say 'that was never a $%&*ing foul ref' but you weren't allowed to direct the swearing at the ref. Like 'You $%&*ing $%&* Mr Ross!'

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Bucks_blue @ Aug. 06 2005,15:55)]I thought this rule already existed. I thought you could say 'that was never a $%&*ing foul ref' but you weren't allowed to direct the swearing at the ref. Like 'You $%&*ing $%&* Mr Ross!'

I think it did already exist but no-one was brave enough to react. This year ref's have been ordered to remove from play people like Wayne "Potty Mouth" Rooney who can't seem to be able to control their language as a direct consequence of the Manchester Buccaneers long and embarassing tirade last season. Why he wasn't removed at the time ... ?!

Here in Spain, a friend of ours plays for the Javea "B" team and was sent off during a game against Pedreguer for muttering "for $%&*'s sake, ref" as he passed the official. What he didn't realise was that the official was a English professor at a local university, summoned him and subsequently sent him off (a direct red as well) for foul language. The same very much applies in the higher echelons of the Spanish League; the players tend to be able to control their language, although the same cannot be said for the fans : "¡HIJO DE PUTA!"

WS

 

[Kris]

I agree, Xabia. I've been playing football competitively for about 17 years now and was told more or less from the start that swearing is a sending off offence. So this rule is nothing new, IMO.

However, although I do think referees need protection from verbal abuse in this country, I can't see many imposing the rule. Unfortunately, swearing is part and parcel of football here, much as I'm not proud of the fact.

 

[bas blue]

a red card seems harsh to me. maybe a sin bin for say 15 minutes would be better ! or if your a col ewe player a sin skip !