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Chairman's Message on behaviour

  • 07/11/08
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Following a recent bout of bad behaviour the Chairman wishes to remind all club of the RESPECT campain we signed up to. click here to read his message

At the start of this season all Clubs agreed that the League should support and promote the FA?s RESPECT campaign. This was supposed to focus each and every person?s attention onto to matters of behaviour and respect towards opponents, officials and all those taking part in the game.
I am saddened to hear in recent weeks of reports of not only bad behaviour and bad language from the touchline but even more worrying instances of foul and insulting language from the players. As this is a totally new development for the League and one we have not had a problem with before we need all teams/clubs to ensure your players/spectators and officials understand the implications of letting this behaviour go unchecked.
To remind you ? FA Law 12 states : A player shall be sent from the field of play if he uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.
To say ? he never swore? is no excuse ? calling a referee ?useless? is insulting and abusive. However it does seem some of our players do not fully understand this, and are using foul language in addition.
In the history of this League we have never had any red cards ? I do not want it to start now, however if this trend continues we will instruct all referee?s to follow the letter of the law and put aside the ?lenient? approach that has been taken to date. Nobody deserves to be called names especially not by a 7,8 or 9 yr old.
Furthermore the League take such instances very seriously, and will act in accordance with FA guidelines when dealing with teams, this can not only result in fines but possible points deduction , suspension and in extreme circumstances could result in your CLUB being refused admission into the League in the future.
As is usual in these circumstances we are talking about minority cases but we have noticed an increase but it has to STOP NOW. I am appealing to all clubs and teams to take this message on board and make sure that each and every person involved in your team understands clearly what is expected of them. League officials will be around at most venues at different times but we CANNOT be everywhere at once so we depend on your co operation and support to nip this disturbing trend in the bud.
Thanks as always for your co-operation.
Jim Pearson
Chairman.