Refs need to man up and deal with erring players and coaches

I don’t think there is any doubt that players and coaches are becoming more disruptive and disrespectful of decisions made by referees if they don’t suit them.

Even if the game has only just started, the protests and complaints flow freely.

Well, it seems that the first country to try to tackle this cancer in our game is Germany.

Ahead of the second half of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season, it seems the Deutscher Fussball-Bund (German Football Association) has advised its referees to act more strictly and not compromise.

On the first match day after the winter break, German football is in the middle of a controversial debate about a growing number of yellow cards and game bans.

While critics claim referees are losing independence and any margin of personal judgement, supporters see football’s integrity as being in danger.

The head of the German referees, Lutz-Michael Fröhlich, said the action was inevitable after the country was struck by a growing number of excesses, including attacks on referees in both professional and amateur football.

One of the main reasons for the new instruction is “the exemplary role professional football has for the youth and amateur section”, Fröhlich said.

In recent months, German amateur football entered the headlines after a spate of severe attacks on referees, several of whom needed medical treatment or had to be taken to hospital.

The association’s attempt is seen as a pilot project as its effect need to be observed in the coming months. In future, any verbal or physical pressure on referees will be banned, the association said.

Fröhlich said excesses, such as pack forming and massive protests beyond the borders of common sense had become a habit.

The fierce body-check by Frankfurt defender David Abraham against Freiburg coach Christian Streich might have been one of the trigger points.

Fröhlich said: “The number of unsporting procedures has grown to such an extent that we can’t tolerate them any more.”

Unsporting behaviours include pack forming, demanding bans for opponents, cornering the referee and uncontrolled verbal protesting.

Statistics show that the number of yellow (and yellow/red) cards grew from 3.6 to 5.1 from the completed 17 match days of the first half of the season to the beginning of the second half.

The association hopes to strengthen respect for referees as it faces a decreasing number of new arrivals who are considering a refereeing career.

In the past few months, the number of applicants has fallen by more than 20%.

I wholeheartedly agree with this new approach.

Players and coaches see a weakness in match officiating and then take full advantage of it.

The sight of players gesticulating to the referee in an attempt to get their fellow professionals yellow- or red-carded is disgusting and despicable.

I agree that the referees are too soft. And, while I’m not advocating dictatorial powers for referees, it is important that referees deal with each situation on its merit, regardless of what time it occurred, who the player was, what team he plays for, or in what competition it occurred.

It’s our job to be independent, neutral and objective in every decision we make.

It’s way past time for referees to be proper arbitrators on the field of play, and referee according to the laws of the game with little or no discretion.

You cannot go through a red light and not suffer some consequence by either receiving a traffic violation ticket, or being involved in an accident.

The players need to know where they stand.

Let’s try to restore some discipline and dignity to the game, and bring back the enjoyment for fans and neutral spectators alike.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions.

Happy whistling!

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