The Football Association has been warned that the “desensitisation of referee abuse” is turning young officials away from the job so that “the pool of new referees coming into the game is almost dry”.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is facing an extended ban after the FA charged him with “threatening” referee Chris Kavanagh. The Fulham striker was shown a red card for pushing Kavanagh during their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. When the referee backed away, Mitrovic proceeded to follow him, waggling a finger in his face and shouting at him.
The red card comes with a standard three-match suspension but, as first revealed by i on Monday, the FA later claimed it is “clearly insufficient” and a disciplinary commission will be established to determine if it should be increased. Fulham have until 6pm on Wednesday to submit evidence arguing why the three-game punishment is sufficient.
After the game, Fulham manager Marco Silva urged the FA not to hand his striker a lengthy ban after the match. Mitrovic had to be restrained by team-mates, Fulham coach Luis Boa Morte and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea before he would leave the field.
“The Mitrovic incident in the Manchester United vs Fulham FA Cup quarter final is a chance for the FA to become a true game-changer and send out a strong message that this is unacceptable behaviour and that we must protect referees at all levels,” Martin Cassidy, chief executive of charity Ref Support UK, told i.
There is growing concern that the behaviour and actions of the game’s star players and managers towards officials is permeating grassroots adult and children’s football, particularly if it is not dealt with by strong action from football’s authorities.
The failure of any action to be taken against Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes for shoving linesman Adam Nunn in their defeat to Liverpool has been widely condemned. That incident, however, was seen by the match officials, who decided no further action was required.
“This escalation we believe has come from the FA failing to respond robustly to the Bruno Fernandes incident in the Manchester United vs Liverpool game, and it’s clear players have seen that and realised that they can basically get away with what they want,” Cassidy said. “Not touching a match official at all levels should be viewed as sacrosanct and not something anyone in football can do.”
Mitrovic was sent off while protesting about team-mate Willian being shown a red card and, in 37 seconds of chaos that cost Fulham the FA Cup tie, Fulham manager Silva was also dismissed.
Silva was also charged by the FA on Monday night for abusive and insulting language and behaviour towards officials, including the allegation he threw a water bottle at the fourth official, but he is not accused of threatening behaviour.
“It is appalling that Fulham have not publicly condemned this behaviour,” Cassidy said. “It’s also appalling that the LMA haven’t condemned the behaviour by one of their members. It’s also appalling that the PFA haven’t come out and said that they condemn this sort of behaviour.
“The lack of ownership by some stakeholders in football is causing the problem here which continues the desensitisation of referee abuse at all levels.”
He added: “When the game realises that ‘no ref, no game’, and that the game will fail without match officials, just like in any sport including players coming through the ranks, the pool of new referees coming into the game is almost dry and the future looks bleak for the match officials at all levels if the FA don’t respond robustly to this situation.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/oq4ceiQ
Post a Comment