EXCLUSIVE: Premier League bosses are warned they are at risk of touchline bans and clubs risk BIGGER fines as the FA get tough on criticism of referees

• Mail Sport has launched a campaign to help stamp out abuse of match officials 
• Premier League managers are now at risk of touchline bans and larger fines 
• Have you witnessed abuse of referees? Contact [email protected] 

Premier League managers have been warned they face touchline bans with clubs to be given bigger fines as part of an FA crackdown on criticism of referees. 

Mail Sport has learned that the Premier League and EFL were informed of a tougher approach from the authorities at a meeting with the FA and Professional Game Match Officials Board [PGMOL] last week, with further talks on the subject planned for next week.

The Premier League and EFL launched a clampdown on players and managers showing dissent to referees during games before the start of the season, with the threshold for receiving yellow cards lowered and officials instructed to be stricter in policing behaviour in the technical area, a change in emphasis which the FA now wish to extend to cover post-match comments. 

Mikel Arteta’s outburst at St James Park earlier this month in which he described Stuart Atwell’s decision to award Anthony Gordon’s winning goal for Newcastle as ’embarrassing’ and a ‘disgrace’ was raised at last week’s meeting, as was the club statement released by Arsenal the following day in which they backed their manager and called on PGMOL to ‘urgently address the standard of officiating’ in the Premier League.

Arteta was charged with misconduct by the FA last week for using words that were ‘insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute,’ but Arsenal escaped without censure for endorsing the Spaniard’s comments. 

Jurgen Klopp argues angrily with officials during Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Spurs last season

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hit out at officials following Newcastle’s controversial winning goal

Ex-Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh in March

Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees to help boost the game

Your browser does not support iframes.

In last week’s meeting however, the FA made it clear that in future any club offering public backing to managers who have been strongly critical of referees would also be charged and face the possibility of large fines.

GET IN TOUCH 

We want to hear from refs who have been abused – or parents who have witnessed atrocious behaviour on the touchline

Email us at: [email protected]

Arteta is believed to be contesting the FA charge on the grounds that he did not insult Atwell and VAR Andy Madley, with a decision expected from the FA by Friday. 

Arsenal travel to Brentford on Saturday evening and Arteta could be banned from the touchline at the Gtech Community Stadium if found guilty, although a fine is another possibility.

The stakeholders meeting last week also featured discussions of other refereeing issues that have emerged this season, such as the increase in stoppage time being added by officials, which has become a source of frustration for players and managers.

The Daily Mail have this week launched our own campaign, Stop Abusing Referees, to express support for match officials and highlight bad behaviour from fans, players and managers at all levels from local parks to the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino (centre) admitted he was wrong to react angrily at officials at the end of Chelsea’s eight-goal thriller against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge earlier this month

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Read Full Article