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Greg Dyke: FA chairman wants action over surrounding referees

By Dan RoanBBC sports editor

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments406

Chelsea players surround referee Bjorn Kuipers
Chelsea's players were criticised after surrounding referee Bjorn Kuipers during their match against Paris St-Germain

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has expressed his concern at the "scary" increase in incidents of players surrounding referees.

The number of confrontations of match officials in the professional game in England has almost trebled since last season, figures show.

The FA wrote to clubs in England's top five divisions in December to remind them of their responsibilities.

"The whole game needs to ensure it is addressing this issue," said Dyke.

What constitutes 'surrounding a match official'?
The FA says an offence of this nature has been committed when three or more players of one club approach an official in a confrontational manner.

At this stage last season, the FA had charged six clubs for not controlling their players. This term, the number has risen to 16.

Clubs have been warned following such incidents on 29 occasions, compared to 14 this time last year.

"We have seen a pretty scary increase this season in the number of clubs charged with their players surrounding referees," Dyke said.

"I believe it is particularly important for professional clubs to set an example so that this kind of conduct is not replicated at grassroots and youth level."

The FA's bid to tackle the issue comes after Chelsea's players were criticised for surrounding referee Bjorn Kuipers during their Champions League tie against Paris St-Germain.

QPR players protest at Mike Dean's decision
QPR are among the Premier League clubs to have been fined for surrounding an offical this season

Chelsea will not face any action from Uefa as, unlike the FA, the European governing body has no specific rules governing surrounding the referee.

Uefa president Michel Platini is expected to consider introducing similar regulations, however.

The FA introduced a charge of surrounding match officials as part of its Respect campaign.external-link

Now, seven years after the launch of that campaign, designed to improve player and spectator behaviour at the grassroots level of the game, the FA is desperate to clamp down on what it sees as a growing problem.

The issue was raised directly by FA officials with players and club staff at visits in the summer, when it was made clear it would not be tolerated.

That has been reflected by charges being consistently brought against offenders.

Chelsea were finedexternal-link after being found guilty of surrounding the referee during a recent game with Everton, while Queens Park Rangers were fined for the same offence in November, as were West Ham United in February.

The FA is understood to be open to the possibility of increasing fines for clubs whose players are found guilty of harassing a referee. Referees may also be encouraged to take a tougher line on dissent, and book more players who surround them.

The Professional Footballers' Association could also come under pressure to provide more guidance and better education to its members.

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406 comments

  • Comment posted by Michael, at 22:33 17 Mar 2015

    I grew up playing rugby and football. With rugby you'd hear lads calling the ref 'sir' and on the football pitch you'd see him sworn at or 'intimidated'.

    The Premier League claims to promote respect. Yet they allow players to get away with mouthing off; I don't want to bang this drum, but that's not sending the right message out to kids learning the game.

    Football can learn a lot from rugby.

  • Comment posted by Marc, at 22:27 17 Mar 2015

    It's simple.

    Stick a microphone on the referee and make it so that only the captain can speak to the referee. Who cares if they have to have someone on a bleep machine for a few matches - or stick it on delay - they'll soon shut up once the players, and clubs, start getting fined per swear word.

  • Comment posted by Jimmy, at 22:27 17 Mar 2015

    Simple solution, anyone how surrounds the ref is instantly yellow carded. Will stop after a couple of weeks and then the captain will be called over in future by ref like in rugby.

  • Comment posted by You, at 22:42 17 Mar 2015

    Yellow cards for anyone other than the captain questioning a decision... simple!

    Would have a lot of yellow cards for a few games but players would learn and soon stop

    Only problem would be the refs having the bottle to follow the rules when a player has already been booked and would therefore be sent off... especially against the 'big' teams

  • Comment posted by User0414031358, at 22:40 17 Mar 2015

    So if my comment gets 100 'likes' and 1,000,000 'dislikes' it will probably still be the highest rated comment?

    I don't think they've thought this through...

  • Comment posted by Percipient, at 22:42 17 Mar 2015

    Fining the clubs is pointless. It becomes just another business expense that their riches can afford. The penalty has to cost them wins and therefore points. That means action on the field and sendings off is the only way. If the FA/referees make it clear from day one of the season and if they stick to the policy, then it stands a chance. But disgusting behaviour seems to be here to stay.

  • Comment posted by Gareth, at 22:40 17 Mar 2015

    Man Utd have done it for years as well. Probably why refs never gave any penalties against them at Old Trafford. It must work or they wouldn't keep doing it.

  • Comment posted by Airbag, at 01:56 18 Mar 2015

    The refs must have pretty low self esteem or something? You and I wouldn't have to accept this in our workplaces? And they have the solution in their pockets! If one Ref yellow then red carded a couple of players surrounding him the FA would have to come out and back them! Problem solved in 2 weekends!

  • Comment posted by D1679324477864, at 23:30 17 Mar 2015

    It's not rocket science, punish the players and they'll stop doing it.

  • Comment posted by chalky67, at 00:19 18 Mar 2015

    As an ex grade 3 ref my answer to being surrounded was quite simple. I just told the nearest player to go away or go off. If he was to stupid to take that on board I took my cards out and asked him what colour he wanted for his ungentlemanly conduct. That normally galvanised everyone's thoughts and ended mattters. Refs now are scared of being tough because of the assessor and idiot media pundits.

  • Comment posted by User0069151652, at 09:34 18 Mar 2015

    I've read some comments blaming referring standards for the cause of these problems. What rubbish.

    Sadly there is so much cheating going on by players, coaches & staff that its amazing that ref’s manage to achieve 95% plus accuracy rate. There isn't a player out there that hasn't claimed a throw or corner when they knew it wasn't theirs but never mind lets just blame the refs for everything.

  • Comment posted by User0490773472, at 22:52 17 Mar 2015

    What good would having ex players do, most of the players and managers don't know the rules. Besides suspect they make more as pundits, and likely have their own agendas and baggage. Imagine Shearer booking someone for elbowing, it was practically his signature move. Making it compulsory for commentary teams and pundits to have passed referee exams would be an idea. Get a better understanding then

  • Comment posted by timgfox, at 01:00 18 Mar 2015

    I don't understand why referees put up with it. All someone needs to do is warn both teams and managers before a match that any aggressive behaviour or swearing will result in an automatic yellow card. It won't be long before a few players are sent off - they'll learn soon enough then...

  • Comment posted by Leaguefan, at 23:41 17 Mar 2015

    Easy
    Send them off.
    If they too stupid to realise that once the decision is made it will not be changed the better but fine and ban them as well, including the coaches and managers.

    Trouble is the "powered that be" need to grow a pair and show these spoilt brats that match officials rule is law on the field. They will continue to make mistakes but then players do continually.

  • Comment posted by Pepperami, at 22:26 17 Mar 2015

    Answer is obvous to all but the weak, inept and clueless FA. Look at Rugby, not an issue there.

  • Comment posted by dogeared, at 22:21 17 Mar 2015

    There is only one way to make Chelsea behave in this - forget fines, they have mountains of Russian cash, a points deduction is the only thing that will make them listen.

  • Comment posted by Wise Owl, at 22:31 17 Mar 2015

    Simple solution, Yellow cards followed by a few Red Cards would solve the problem.

    Sadly, Football administrators are not up to the task and this will never happen.

  • Comment posted by Gwynndav, at 22:32 17 Mar 2015

    This situation will end immediately if the FA rule that team captains are the only players that can question a referees decision. it works very well in both Rugby codes.

  • Comment posted by User0126244157, at 23:07 17 Mar 2015

    Bring in video replays just like in other professional sports and the problem goes away!

    It's a 'no brainer'.

  • Comment posted by Whisky and Chips, at 10:46 18 Mar 2015

    @168 Soccer-mane

    Anyone who uses the word Soccer cannot expect to be taken seriously

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