The Premier League, Football League and The FA have all joined forces to try and combat the scourge of persistent abuse and intimidation of match officials by players during games.
All three organisations have called on the Professional Game Match Officials, the body which looks after match officials to giver harsher punishments to players on the field, to try and combat what is becoming a bigger problem.
The Laws of the Game, have been amended ahead of the new season, which will give match officials clear guidance to take the appropriate action.
Dissent towards match officials
Yellow cards will be issued to players who:
- Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official
- Respond aggressively to decisions
- Confront an official face to face
- Run towards an official to contest a decision
Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials
Red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them.
Physical contact with match officials
- 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).
- A red card for physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational manner.
Surrounding match officials
- A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official.
- The FA will continue to sanction teams when they surround match officials.
Conduct in the technical area
- The requirements of the Technical Area Code of Conduct will be more rigorously enforced for players and club staff.
- Additionally, match officials will be required to retain professional detachment from players and club staff at all times.
The Premier League season begins on August 13th, when Leicester City begin the defence of their title, away to newly-promoted Hull City.
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