Why our League needs ‘Respect’ ‘Respect’ is the collective responsibility of everyone in football to create a fair, safe and enjoyable environment in which the game can take place. ‘Respect’ the behavioural code for football. ‘Respect’ is not a short-lived campaign but on ongoing commitment to improve behaviour in football. It won’t be tackled in the short term as we all have a lot of work to do over the seasons ahead. ‘Respect’ aims to improve the environment of the game and so improve the experience of everyone involved – particularly Referees. What do we achieve with Respect? Zero tolerance for assaults on referees. Improvement in on-field player discipline, particularly in the area of dissent to referees and in competitions that have an established record of poor discipline. A ‘step change‘ in football on what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour from club officials, referees, players, spectators and coaches. Create enjoyable learning environment for footballers and greater improve for referees The most important message of the ‘Respect’ is that real and lasting change will come from everyone in football family taking collective responsibility to promote what is good in the game and deal with that which diminishes it. Referees’ respond to the behaviour of teams’ spectators have an adverse impact on the game: Match officials have a responsibility to promote high standards of behavior in the game before, during and after the game. This is because the behavior of the match officials has an impact, directly and indirectly, on the conduct of everyone involved in the game – both on the pitch and on the sidelines. Match officials therefore, MUST play their parts professionally and observe ‘Respect’ as an arbiter at all time. It is a club’s responsibility to manage the behaviour of its supporters. Show ‘Respect’ to others involved in the game including match officials, opposition players, coaches, managers, officials and spectators. Adhere to the laws and spirit of the game. Ensure that all activities organized are appropriate for the smooth running of the game. Players have a big part to play. That’s why every players is enjoin to follow ‘Respect’ in all his/her dealings and action, before during and after the match . Team captains’ unique role to assist in the management of a trouble free League: Often problems start at matches when individual players posture are abusive towards the referee, which escalates into several players confronting the referee at the same time – then it’s anarchy. For the League to improve drastically ‘Respect’ is important by anyone involve in the game. The clubs and team captains must play their part effectively. Team captains in particular need to use their influence to help maintain an environment which allows the teams to play and for referees to officiate. For our game to succeed, it has become clear that the team captains have a crucial role to play in helping to clean up the game. A team captain have ways of communicating with his team mates that the Referee will not entertain, often it’s only the captain that can get through to players that are running a real risk of being cautioned or dismissed. Captains have no special status or privileges under the Laws of the Game, but do have a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of their team. Management of on the pitch situation: Sometimes the behaviour of spectators and team officials can have a negative impact on the game itself. Respect aims to create a playing environment which is fair, safe and enjoyable. The creation of designated areas for spectators in football is an important element of Respect. ‘Respect’ aims to stop this cycle before it starts. Team captains may be used to assist referees in curbing the type of behaviour which often gives rise to problems in matches, and where captains and referees need to work together, can put to a stop to what can be described as ‘harassment and challenging behaviour’ towards the referee’. , Referees may also make use of captains to deal with persistent offending from a team-mate where there is a real possibility of further offending resulting in a caution or a dismissal in the following violation of the norms of our game: Harassment: • Running towards the referee in an aggressive manner. • Players surrounding the referee to protest a decision. • Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an attempt to influence the referee or undermine his/her responsibilities. Challenging: • Passing comment to other players about a referee’s decision-making. • Repeatedly moaning at the referee about decisions. • Gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving of the hand. Team captains have been asked to: • Ensure they wear a captain’s armband. • Ensure all players understand what they can/cannot do in relation to the referee and what is meant by ‘unwanted behaviour’. No-one’s trying to curb enthusiasm – just instil more discipline. • Ensure vice-captains (who should be appointed one if there isn’t one) is aware of these rules, in case captains are unavailable for a game, or have to leave the field. • Share in the responsibility of focusing teams on playing the game rather than trying to ‘ref ‘the game Referee’s are enjoined to ‘manage’ the game professionally: to work as a team; to manage the players and the game effectively; to control the game by applying the Laws of the Game and deal appropriately with any open show of dissent by players; While recognising that players may on occasions make an appeal for a decision (e.g. a throw-in, corner or goal-kick), it is important referees distinguish these from an act of dissent which should be punished with a caution. Referees are enjoin to apply the Laws of the Game appropriately and effectively in managing players. League rules of the competition are an additional preventative and or supportive tool for referees to manage games effectively. Pre-match briefing meeting between referee and managers involvement: One of the challenges for referees is that in many cases the game environment does not allow for any interaction between the match officials and the team officials and players. The pre–match briefing provides an opportunity for a referee to meet with the key individuals and begin developing the working relationship which may make the management of the game easier. The meeting involves a more formal exchange of team sheets by the manager or a senior member of the coaching crews and for the team captains and the referee to introduce themselves. The meeting provides an opportunity for the Referee to outline the responsibilities of captains and how they might be called upon to assist in the management of players. As the season progresses and players and managers become accustomed to their responsibilities the referee may also use these meetings to clarify other interpretations of the Laws of the Game. The format of the pre-match briefing will be identified The team handshake staged prior to kick-off is to set the tone of fair play from the outset, teams are to shake hands with each other prior to kickoff, as happens at international and professional clubs levels. In many ways, ‘Respect’ is only bringing to the fore some of the aspects already embedded in the spirit of the game – and in the Laws of the Game itself. Referees are being asked to fully implement Law 12 and 11 particularly around shows of dissent and Offside– given this underpins the behaviour change the ‘Respect’ is intended to engender. Specifically, referees are to try to eliminate ‘Offensive, Insulting and Abusive’ language or gestures. Refereeing reinforced the following points to referees, which all players and club officials need to take on board: Referees need to apply Law 12 sensibly, but deal with willful, audible language directed at players, officials or spectators firmly. There is a real difference between the player who uses ‘Offensive, Insulting and Abusive‘ language which is loud, aggressive and meaningful , as opposed to the player who quietly swears to himself in frustration. There is a need to understand that players become frustrated and sometimes swear to themselves. It’s worth reiterating the cautionable and sending-off offences under Law 12: Cautionable offences: A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences: is guilty of unsporting behaviour shows dissent by word or action persistently infringes the Laws of the Game delays the restart of play fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee’s permission deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission A substitute or substituted player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following three offences: • is guilty of unsporting behaviour • shows dissent by word or action • delays the restart of play Sending-off offences A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences: is guilty of serious foul play is guilty of violent conduct spits at an opponent or any other person denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area) denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures receives a second caution in the same match Dealing with offensive, insulting or abusive language: The attention of players, managers, coaches, referees and administrators is drawn to increasing concern expressed as a result of problems both on and near football grounds involving the use of offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures. The award of an indirect free kick in these circumstances, without the offending player being sent off, is not permitted in Law. There are occasional incidents when a player, substitute player or substituted player makes an obscene or offensive gesture towards a match official, another player, a coach or a spectator. If such an action is seen by the referee or reported to by a neutral assistant referee to the referee, the player must be dealt with under this part of Law 12. An increasing number of complaints have been received from members of the public concerning offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures in football. ‘Respects’ expects all concerned in the playing, controlling and organising of matches, at all levels, to make every effort to eradicate these problems. Players, managers, coaches, referees and administrators all have a responsibility in ensuring that the image of our league is not tarnished either by the use or the acceptance of such language. Referees enjoined to take the necessary and appropriate action when offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures are used. We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game. The behaviour of the match officials has an impact, directly and indirectly, on the conduct of everyone involved in the game – both on the pitch and on the sidelines. Play your part and observe ‘Respect’ at all time before during and after the match. Never tolerate, or encourage offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour from players and officials; set a positive personal example by promoting good behaviour and showing respect to everyone involved in the game. for further clarification contact Alh. R.S. Olawoyin 08034508431
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 15:15:53 +0000
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