Respect due at grassroots

Mar 30 2008 Sunday Sun

RESPECT has been the buzzword around football in the last couple of weeks, particularly with reference to referees.

The high-profile Ashley Cole and Javier Mascherano incidents have highlighted the problems at the top end of the game, with the the focus firmly on how players treat the officials.

But it’s at the other end of the scale – grassroots football – where the Football Association are concentrating the majority of their attentions.

The FA’s £200m “Respect the Ref” campaign is aimed at cutting down the amount of abuse and dissent officials receive, with youth players being encouraged not to imitate what they see on TV.

One of the most famous junior set-ups in the region, Gateshead- based Redheugh Boys Club, already have their own code of conduct in place.

Chairman Terry Ritson said: “We are doing it through the FA, but we haven’t had any feedback from them yet.

“We are a Charter Standard Community Club, and respect for the referee from players is built into our constitution.

“We have had a bit of problem with parents towards referees, so what we’re bringing in to the club next season is a parents’ code of conduct.

“They have to sign it before their kids come into the club to play. The kids have got their own code of conduct that they must sign before they play themselves.”

Ritson is also assistant manager at Northern League side Whickham, who were the focus of media attention last month when the league announced a ground-breaking clampdown on foul language, which would have resulted in a straight red card.

That iniative was ultimately binned by the FA, in favour of their “Respect” campaign, but Ritson believes those running the game need to start at the top, rather than the bottom, with their scheme.

And he supported Roy Keane’s view that Premier League managers should be setting standards too.

“A few weeks ago when the Sky Sports cameras were up at Whickham we were on about bringing respect into the game there,” Ritson said. “But I told them that the suits at Soho Square are starting off in the wrong place.

“The kids see the Premier League players giving the referee abuse, and the likes of Ashley Cole turning his back on the ref.

“They copy them, because that’s what they think is right.

“These are the guys who make all the money, and they should be setting the standards, and being better role models.

“And the likes of (Arsene) Wenger and (Sir Alex) Ferguson try to influence the referee; they should be brought to book as well.

“Everyone makes mistakes – and referees don’t make mistakes on purpose.”