Referees are given fresh orders

[Rocol]

Players who wave imaginary cards at referees can now expect to be booked themselves.
European football's governing body Uefa, has issued new directives to officials and says they should come in with immediate effect.

UEFA also want referees to punish players who crowd around officials and show dissent through gestures or by running at the those in charge of the game.

A statement read: "UEFA is determined to stop dissent and the harassment of referees and wishes to make players and team officials aware that referees in all UEFA competitions will punish such on-field confrontations appropriately.

"These additional instructions for referees should be applied immediately, starting with Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifiers."

A good idea, as some of the teams / players need sorting out ;)

UEFA also want referees to punish players who crowd around officials and show dissent through gestures or by running at the those in charge of the game.

If they bring that rule into the UK League Matches, then Man U will not be playing many more

[TGLucario]

hmm....i hope this can bring a end to forcin the ref to give cards....

[Mysticsniper]

Its a good idea pity its 3 months late

[Arwen]

well i think it is a good idea it may make them think twice before harrasing ref's about time too

[TGLucario]

i agree....with u & mystic....3 months l8 & they didnt harrass refs in the '70s

[stubacca68]

Well at last the world of football has taken a leaf out the book of rugby, we call the ref sir and would never crowd him or give him back chat, where as it is common place in football for profesionals to even swear at the match officials! so i think it is about time that football got hard about the way officials are treated by "PROFESIONAL" (I use that term loosley) players.

[Saurgrist]

Definitely good for the sport. Over here, in the NFL, players cannot be swearing and screaming at the official... otherwise they will be ejected and/or fined. Same with baseball, basketball, etc.