Here’s a few simple ways to get them chanting, “The referee’s a great bloke!”
• Show Respect to the players – you’re more likely to receive it back!
• Use the powers available to you. Don’t tolerate abuse – you don’t have to!
• If the game requires it use the team captains to help you manage the game – they may be able to get through the red mist to a player on their way to a red card.
• Report it! Give Manchester FA the opportunity to deal with the idiots – you owe it to your refereeing colleagues.
Attend a Manchester FA Information Session
You will be invited to a Respect information session or workshop, hosted by our Referee Development Manager, Peter Roberts and or the League that you officiate in. If the opportunity arises we would encourage you to attend, as it will explain the impact that you can have in being part of the RESPECT programme - and answer any questions you may have.
We need you to be absolutely clear about what your Respect role entails.
Read, understand, accept and sign up to the match officials' code of conduct
All referees need to sign the Match Officials' Code of Conduct contained in this pack.
Ensure you understand others' codes of conduct
There are four Codes of Conduct covering various football participants:
1. Club Officials, Coaches and Team Managers
2. Spectators, Parents and Carers
3. Adult players
4. Young players (under 16)
Naturally, we want to take a sensible and measured approach to the imposition of penalties and we are relying on you, as the controller of the game, to be clear about:
1. What everybody else at the match has signed up to
2. When action needs to be taken
3. What needs to be done.
Respect will only work if we are fair and consistent. Ignore people's abusive behaviour, those who do not keep to their Code, and there is no Respect. As a referee you have a pivotal role to play.
Monitoring Respect
You may be asked to help Manchester FA to monitor if the Respect programme is having a positive impact on behaviour. If the league to which you are appointed uses The FA's league administration system Full-Time you can provide feedback on matches that you officiate at. This is a simple task that will only take a few minutes each week. If you would like more information on how to get involved please contact Communications Officer Alex Rowen: alex.rowen@manchesterfa.com.
