Premier League, EFL & FA introduce new player behaviour rules

[Tuscans]

Plans designed to reduce "intolerable behaviour" by players and managers in English football have been announced.

In a statement, the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association said poor conduct has reached "unacceptable levels".

Starting this season, red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive language or make gestures towards them.

Behaviour within the technical areas will also be more rigorously enforced.

Not one player has been sent off in the Premier League for insulting or abusive language towards a match official in the last five seasons.

But Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore said there has been concern "for some time" that players have been "overstepping the mark".

"It is our collective position that these types of behaviour should no longer be tolerated," he added.

"Things happen in the heat of the moment during fast and highly competitive football. We still want to see the passion fans enjoy and demand, but players and managers have to be aware there are lines that should not be crossed."

Offences which could earn players a yellow card :

Visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official;

An aggressive response to decisions;

Confronting an official face to face;

Running towards an official to contest a decision;

Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials;

Physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner;

A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official.

New red card offences:

If a player confronts match officials and uses offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them;

Physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

about time too. Interesting to see how widely this is applied, especially to Chelsea, Man Ure and Jordan Henderson

[Somniloquism]

It will last as long as the previous respect campaign lasted, 2 weeks or so.

Referees have always had these options (Barry sent off anyone), however as with all decisions, the Ref will decide whether it is worth the hassle of making the decision dependent on team/ player. They don't want to miss the options of reffing the "big" games at Old Trafford or with Manure/ Chelsea.  It is the same reason that Rooney has managed to eff and blind over all decisions against him but never ever saw a card.

[itbrvilla]

About time. Although I thought they were going to make those booked for diving wear a florescent arm band.   That never happened did it?

[ChicagoLion]

Will make no difference at all.

[Villa Lew]

How about doing something about all the pushing, pulling and grabbing of shirts carried out by defenders, when there is a corner taken.

[CJ]

And anyone trying to get an opponent booked by waving an imaginary card should receive said card themselves.

[cdbearsfan]

Will just benefit the wealthier Premier League clubs. I'm sure officials will have no problem sending off a Bournemouth or a Hull player, but does anyone seriously think this rule will be applied consistently? If it was, Wayne Rooney would be sent off for dissent in every game he played.

[UK Redsox]

How about doing something about all the pushing, pulling and grabbing of shirts carried out by defenders, when there is a corner taken.

Yep, stop warning people, just penalise them

Shirt pulling is never accidental and should be carded every time in occurs

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

How about doing something about all the pushing, pulling and grabbing of shirts carried out by defenders, when there is a corner taken.

Yep, stop warning people, just penalise them

Shirt pulling is never accidental and should be carded every time in occurs

I've never understood why they warn them, they don't warn them anywhere else on the pitch. Just give the foul ffs

[E I Adio]

How about doing something about all the pushing, pulling and grabbing of shirts carried out by defenders, when there is a corner taken.

Yep, stop warning people, just penalise them

Shirt pulling is never accidental and should be carded every time in occurs

I've never understood why they warn them, they don't warn them anywhere else on the pitch. Just give the foul ffs

I've no problem with the new behaviour rules, but as others have said, the physical contact at corners and free kicks are a blight on the game and really needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

[dave shelley]

There is nothing on that list that isn't/wasn't already covered in the laws of the game.  It's just that they are/were never implemented.

[Tuscans]

There is nothing on that list that isn't/wasn't already covered in the laws of the game.  It's just that they are/were never implemented.

I think the FA and Premier League are trying to encourage it and follow rugby's take on respect for the ref. If that does ever happen it will probably be a generation until you see it.

[Holtemeister]

There is nothing on that list that isn't/wasn't already covered in the laws of the game.  It's just that they are/were never implemented.

Absolutely spot on that man ... more a failing of officials applying the laws correctly than anything else.

[castlefields_villan]

What a pity this wasn't brought in around 20 years or more years ago, I remember a certain team making a regular thing of surrounding and intimidating the referee when big decisions went against them.