Captain only approaching referee

[adster2407]

I'm researching for a new TV documentary, and am hoping to gauge the opinion of the average football fan. The FA have introduced the "Respect the ref" campaign, although haven't included the rule that only the captains can approach a referee. John Terry has suggested this would work, as it clearly works in Rugby Union, would it work in football? Would this stamp out the behaviour on the pitch that we are seeing more and more often? I would love to hear your opinions.

[mark01]

I think under the respect campaign, the ref will call the captain over to have a word if one of his teammates keeps offending as a last resort.

[BillySugger]

Like every new idea in football it will only work if the referees enforce it & book or send off offenders . So , to answer your question, no, it will never work

[adster2407]

Thanks Billy. Do you not think its not something the referee needs to enforce? Its quite simple, the players DO NOT approach the ref. Rugby players don't do it, as they understand the importance of respecting the ref, for example they call him Sir. What is it about a footballer that makes him feel he is able to speak to officials in such a way?

[thanks4nowt]

�80 grand plus a week

[joggerjayne]

Yes ... Captain only.

Any other player who approaches the ref gets a yellow card ... then a red.

And ... the 10 yards rule should be introduced. If a team get a free kick, the other players argue, yellow cards + 10 yards. If the 10 yards takes a free kick into the penalty box, it becomes a penalty.

It would soon teach the ballerinas (sorry, football players) to respect the ref if the other side have scored 3 goals from penalties in a match.

[BillySugger]

adster I agree with the idea I just don't see it working . Diving was supposed to be a booking offence - how often do you see that enforced ? for example .
It's more down to the players & coaches , managers etc . Players of the calibre of Gerrard, Terry , Ferdinand & all these managers moaning about the referee should be the ones leading the respect campaign of which the captain approaching the ref is only one aspect .
Then you have the F.A. who don't know there ar$e from there elbow as far as refereeing guidance goes .
The fact that none of the refs are ex-players & who could blame them ..
It seems to be that players behaviour is improving in general so we can but hope

[mark01]

I think fair play to the FA to try and stop refs getting crap from players - at the end of the day its only a game - either premier level or 6 year olds five a side....

We cant attract young kids to take up the whistle and who can blame them! Even my mrs thinks she is the best authority on football and shes never been to a game... even the ex-pros commentating on games hardly know the rules of the game ( sorry laws of the game).

I've been watching league football since 1965 and in all those years honestly cannot say I've seen an improvement in referring desisions - a sad statement, but from my view, a true one.

Failed players at what ever level seem to want to be involved in wanting to be potential referees and there is the problem... poor players - poor referees.

Ex- pros were being encouraged over 20 years ago to become refs, even before the obscene wages paid to players nowadays - if no ex-pros didn't want to do it then why should they do it now.

Theres only one ex-pro I know who has been fast tracked as a ref - and I haven't heard of his progress during the last 12 months.

Getting back to your question - is the new respect initiative working? Yes, it is particuarly at semi- pro, amateur level and can I say in the womens game! Lets get behind the FA on this one (did I really say that) and give them a chance. They said at the begining of this campaign - lets start at the bottom and then to the top - and from my point of view ( and I do watch a variety of games every weekend - at all levels) it is working - and its got to work - for the game that we all love.

[Haggisdj]

The rule was brought in during the 90s that only the captain could approach the referee, that's why the captains now wear those armbands with 'Captain' on them. Whether or not it has been repealed or not I don't know.

joggerjayne - the 10 yard rule was also brought in a couple of seasons ago, once again I don't know if it is still in use.

[mark01]

The 10 yard rule was brought in for Championship and league 1 and 2 - scrapped 2 seasons ago. Never introduced for Premier division though.

[adster2407]

Thanks everyone for the answers, it's really helped our research.

Haggisdj - We weren't aware of this rule being brought in during the 90's, and is not something our FA contact is aware of, so may need to do some further digging on that.
I just want to add something that might get a few peoples backs up....
People always say how would this be enforced.... are footballers THAT thick that they have to be told "Don't do this, or this will happen to you" or "If you talk to the Ref, you will get punished"? In Rugby 99.9% of the time, players do not question the Referee. Why are footballers so special? And please don't think I am some bitter rugby fan, football is my game, although I AM a bitter Notts County fan!