Refs set to be stricter

Last updated : 09 August 2003 By Patrick Hill
Referees and their assistants throughout the football league are being urged by football league chief's to "toe the line" on several key issues.

The announcement was made by the board of professional game match officials - the group who monitor referee's in the top four divisions.

Referees have been told to lay down the law on rule breaking goalkeepers, over the top goal celebrations, dangerous and reckless challenges and over animated club officials.

"Match officials have been told to be extra vigilant at the taking of penalties," explained a football league spokesman.

"They must order a retake if the goalkeeper moves forward before the kick is taken and the penalty taker then misses.

"Match official's should also pay attention to goal scoring celebrations and caution players who in their opinion make provocative gestures, climb on perimeter fences or go into the crowd or delay the restart of the match due to excessive celebration.

"Reckless challenges which endanger the safety of an opponent will also be punished. Where the challenge is regarded as reckless but the ball is taken cleanly the offending player should be cautioned. But if the challenge takes the player, or the ball and player, a red card should be shown."

It's not just United's players who will have to watch their conduct though, manager Brian Laws will also have to adhere to the laws of the game.

"Referee's and fourth officials have been reminded that anyone leaving their area to remonstrate with an assistant referee, using abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening language or gestures or persistantly failing to adhere to the rules of the game, league regulations, competition rules or the requests of the fourth official can be expected to be reported".