FA to tackle players' behaviour

The Football Association plans to step up its campaign against bad behaviour by launching a pilot scheme that allows only captains to talk to referees.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick says it will be introduced at grass-roots level and is part of a wider programme aimed at improving standards.

"It's not going to change the world but I am determined to make an impact - and I'll do it," Barwick told Radio 5live.

He added that the FA is still pushing strongly for goal-line technology.

Barwick says he has been "banging down the doors" of football's world and European governing bodies Fifa and Uefa to ensure referees are given extra help with crucial decisions.

"Goal-line technology will ultimately be delivered and the great part of it will be because of the work the FA has done," he said.

As for improving standards of behaviour in football, spectators and club officials will also be expected to conform as Barwick seeks to clean up the game from the bottom to the top.

The three main components of the pilot scheme to be launched in nine regions from next January are:

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Only the team captain will be allowed to speak with the referee.

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Roped-off areas will be introduced at junior matches so 'over-indulgent or abusive' parents cannot direct their bile at the referee.

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All players and club officials will be forced to sign a 'memorandum of understanding' noting the standards of behaviour that will be expected.

Barwick added: "These things are done better through discussion rather than a big stick but we want to stop the situation getting out of hand.

"There is a lot of emotion and passion in the game but you only have to look at a sport like rugby to see there seems to be a certain level of respect for the officials.

"That sets a marker down for our game because the treatment of referees is a really serious issue and something we have to deal with."

Barwick's stance has been backed by England coach Steve McClaren, who was once forced to resign as president of a local club because of the behaviour of parents.

"In my opinion, this thing has to start at the bottom," he said.

"In my experience, over many years of coaching, the players coming through are less disciplined every year and instilling the discipline required into them is getting harder and harder."

As for goal-line technology, tests are currently being undertaken at Reading's academy on the Hawk-Eye system that has proved so effective in cricket and tennis.

The results will be evaluated by the Premier League and Fifa, but Barwick is determined to come up with a way of determining beyond all doubt whether a ball has crossed the goal-line or not.

"I would say we are market leaders in trying to do it and now the Premier League are taking it on in terms of experimentation," added Barwick.

"I absolutely buy the fact that when the ball crosses the line, these days it's absolutely imperative that we know it, the referee knows it and he's not the guy with a red face because everybody else at home knows.

"So technology, yes, the right technology, yes, goal-line technology, absolutely yes."

Barwick has also given his opinion on the current influx of foreign investors in the Premier League.

He has no major concerns about that situation but feels it is important such businessmen care about English football.

"You can't discriminate on the basis of nationality," he stated.

"It's a fantastic injection of capital and let's hope in five or 10 years' time we look back on it as a seriously positive moment in English football.

"I absolutely believe that you have got to care.

"I'm not naive enough to think that every person who has bought into a club in the last 18 months necessarily followed the fortunes of that club previously.

"But that might have been the case with other British owners down the years as well."