Howard Webb: Referees Can No Longer Ignore “Unacceptable Behavior”

Howard Webb, the head of the referees, claims that standards of conduct in the English game have been “allowed to decline” over a long period of time and believes that everyone must adhere to a new code of conduct to rectify it.

In the upcoming season, officials will have additional authority to give cards when faced by two or more players, and the Football Association may enhance financial punishments for players and coaches who seriously or regularly disrespect referees.

According to Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), there has been a global reduction in referees entering the game, and addressing inappropriate behavior requires a team effort from everyone engaged in football.

“I think over a period of time we’ve seen a decline in some behaviours, both on the field of play and in the technical areas. It’s not exclusive to the English game, we’ve seen it around the world,” he said in an interview broadcast on PGMOL’s YouTube page.

“This has had knock-on effects. We’ve seen copycat behaviour at grassroots levels, and that’s resulted in people either quitting as referees or not choosing to take up the whistle.

“I think for too long we as match officials have not done well enough in dealing with behaviours that have been unacceptable. We have too often confused unacceptable behaviour as passion. We’ve turned a blind eye or a deaf ear.

“We’re trying to change behaviours that are exhibited in our sport that have been allowed to decline over the years, for many years, that have now seen a situation where we have a lot of referees who are facing really difficult experiences at grassroots level.

“Numbers are generally around the world declining and I think enough is enough. This is our chance to leave a legacy of improved behaviour.

“We’re being tasked as match officials to deliver change on the field of play by being resilient and robust and consistent with the way that we deal with unacceptable behaviour.

“We’re ready to do that for the good of the game but it’s absolutely important that all stakeholders in the game stand behind our officials and ensure that they feel empowered and supported when they’re dealing with these behaviours.”

A number of initiatives, including a “Participants’ Charter” for players and coaches and stronger penalties for off-field problems including abuse related to football tragedies, have been adopted by the English football authorities in an effort to curb poor behavior on and off the field.

While teams can now lose points if their players or personnel are deemed to have seriously or frequently mistreated officials at the grassroots level, there are no signs that the professional game would follow suit.

This is in spite of several significant instances at the highest level of competition in the past year alone, including Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic receiving an eight-game suspension for assaulting referee Chris Kavanagh and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp receiving two fines for verbally insulting officials.

According to Webb, all players and management need to be conscious of the effects of their conduct, particularly on children.

“So many young people’s eyes are on that field of play. They take their lead from what players do.” Webb added.

“These are role models whose behaviour they want to emulate, they look up to these people. If they see certain types of behaviour then it sets a really poor example for what is deemed acceptable in everyday life as well.

“Not wanting to put too much pressure and responsibility on players’ shoulders or officials or coaches who perform in that pressurised environment, but I think that we have to accept that when we get to a certain level we’re all role models.

“And we all have to understand that our behaviours do have an impact and therefore those behaviours that are exhibited have to be positive ones.”

The Professional Footballers’ Association, according to the PA news agency, actively participated in and helped shape the sessions that resulted in the new charter.