COPPELL CALLS FOR RESPECT AGENDA

Steve Coppell
Reading Manager Steve Coppell has declared it is time for football's law makers to force players to show referees more respect.

The Reading manager is convinced the Football Association, Europe's governing body UEFA and its worldwide equivalent FIFA need to act now to stop the problem getting out of hand.

Speaking hours after Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole appeared to turn his back on referee Mike Riley following a potentially dangerous challenge on Tottenham's Alan Hutton, Coppell insisted a tough stance would have implications not just for the game at grassroots level but for society in general.

He said: "The rules are there and can be amended to really guarantee respect.

"We had an initiative a couple of years ago where, if you disrespected the referee, a free-kick against you would be moved 10 yards further forward.

"After one year it was taken off as being ineffective. I thought that was the one positive, significant step the rule makers have made in recent years.

"To see the way officials are abused by players on a game-by-game basis it's no wonder we have problems in society.

"I genuinely believe if we refereed football games the way rugby games are refereed there would be a compound interest effect throughout society.

"This week I watched the reserves, where one of my players was fouled and had to go off for treatment. It is the most ridiculous rule but has stayed on the statute books for years because FIFA and UEFA say that is what you have got to do.

"If FIFA and UEFA said something that was fundamentally constructive in demanding respect for officials then they would have a lot more credibility.

"They are the ones who make the rules. We need better rule direction from the governing body. Get the rules right and you will get the respect right.

"If you look at games, 10 or 11-year-olds abuse referees the same as they see their heroes do on the telly. Even the referees say you can't do anything about it in football - but why not?

"It is everywhere. You switch a telly on for a game and you don't have to be a lip-reader to know what is being said. There is a lack of respect for authority."

Coppell prides himself on his own team's good disciplinary record but admitted there were times when he and his players let off steam at officials.

He said: "My players know how I would like them to behave but you feel you are at a disadvantage if you don't compete verbally with questioning referees' decisions.

"I very rarely do it but sometimes when I see other managers questioning officials I think I am letting my team down by not putting the same kind of pressure on.

"For me, the referee is right when he is wrong. Human error is part of the game."

Reading can take a major step towards safety by beating fellow strugglers Birmingham at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday and Coppell has no fresh injury worries following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool.

The Anfield side survived a strong penalty appeal in the final minute when the ball struck Steven Gerrard on a hand and Coppell, who was highly critical of referee Andre Marriner, called for the referees' own governing body to make their policy on such incidents clearer.

He said: "I would like definitive direction from (referees' chief) Keith Hackett and the referees because one week a handball isn't a handball and the next week it is. I know they work very hard at being consistent but it would be great if that consistency was more transparent."

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