Last week the BBC reported that, in a survey of over 2,000 football referees, approximately two thirds have experienced verbal abuse on the football field and a fifth have experienced physical abuse, sometimes resulting in hospitalisation.

The survey covered all levels of the game, both amateur and professional, so it’s clear that referee abuse is prevalent throughout the game. Whilst physical assault is rare in the professional game you only have to watch the average Premier League game to realise that verbal abuse and swearing at the referee is fairly commonplace.

I don’t understand why there is such an issue and why it has been such a topic for debate for so many years when the solution is so simple.

The Football Association (FA) should make it clear, with immediate effect and at all levels of the game, that any verbal abuse of a referee will result in the instant dismissal of the player from the field of play. In addition the player will be fined and banned for a fixed period of say 3 games or more depending on the severity of the offence.  Any physical contact with the referee (even pulling his shirt) will be dealt with by a longer ban, a heavier fine and the club will also be punished by way of a fine.

Those clubs with players who persistently offend can be dealt with by points deduction in league games and expulsion from cup competitions. The message would soon get through, particularly in the professional game.

It can work and players must be taught to respect officials and abide by the laws of the game. Just look at rugby, there’s no problem there. All that is required is the will and determination on the part of the FA. But will the FA do anything about it? Probably not, the clue lies in the name!