Bad language is the curse of our game

Many of the articles written about football have little if any bearing on the average person reading this newspaper. This article is different.

One of the most irritating things about football to the local dog walker or parent out with his or her children on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning in the local park is the amount of foul language coming from those kicking the ball around. I’ve heard many comments about this and the question is always - why can't the referee stop it? The problem we referees have is that we can, but the results would be catastrophic.

No ambiguity in the law

Football law states that a player will be sent from the field of play for the use of ‘offensive, insulting or abusive’ language. (It used to be ‘foul or abusive’). That sounds so simple, but how many of your football-playing readership can say they have never used foul language? And how many referees can say they send off players on every occasion when they use bad language? This is certainly not the case at any professional match I have ever watched, live or on television. Now, if that is acceptable on the BBC, why can't it be acceptable at Prospect Park?

A simple answer

There is an answer to this problem and the answer has been around for many years, but no-one has so far grasped the nettle.

If the law-making body made the use of offensive language a cautionable (yellow card) offence, I believe the problem would be almost eradicated. At the moment, because we can only send off for this offence, referees are loathe to use the law.

Red card still for insults and abuse

You note, I only say ‘offensive’ language. I believe the use of insulting or abusive language should still be a sending-off offence. This way, a referee would have the ability to differentiate between bad language, and pure abuse at officials or other players accordingly. A player once cautioned is unlikely to swear again and, if he did so, he would have only himself to blame, having already been publicly warned.

This is not just my answer to the problem, but one which has been made by many referees over the last few years. It would take little time and effort by the governing body - the International FA Board - but the change would bear fruit immediately.

John Moore

© J Moore 1999

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