Charlton: Stop rounding on referees

BOBBY CHARLTON wants FIFA to act in an effort to stop the game being marred by ugly scenes of players rounding on referees.

England and Manchester United legend Charlton believes players should be punished with red and yellow cards if they confront or touch referees.

And he says the England and West Germany heroes of the 1966 World Cup final are a shining example of mutual respect between players in the face of controversy.

Charlton said: "In these last few weeks, we've seen players trying to browbeat the referee.

"I used to think it was just a South American trait. They used to get onto a referee and I never knew if they were trying to frighten him or make sure he didn't make the same mistake again.

"The referee has a job to do and he is sacrosanct. He should not be touched for any reason and I would like to see FIFA stop anyone touching a referee. To do it as a ploy is dreadful.

"Keep the referee apart. You shouldn't touch him and he shouldn't touch you and things would be better.

"FIFA should give instructions. If players get the message that they will leave the pitch if they touch a referee, they will soon stop it.

"I don't like to comment on other clubs but I saw the Fulham versus Chelsea game and I thought it was really bad news."

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was furious because he thought Fulham's players had surrounded referee Mike Dean and pressurised him into changing his mind about a goal by Didier Drogba.

The Football Association are studying the evidence before they decide whether to issue any charges.

Chelsea are already in the dock on a charge of failing to control their players in a match at West Brom earlier this month.

Manchester United have been criticised in the past for pressurising referees on the pitch but Charlton thinks that has changed.

"We have learned our lesson at United," he said. "It doesn't help at all. Somebody has to start protecting the referees otherwise there won't be anybody who wants to be one."

The legends of the 1966 World Cup final were re-united yesterday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the match.

They visited the new Wembley Stadium before lunch with chancellor Gordon Brown at 11 Downing Street and an evening reception at the German Embassy.

They shared jokes about Geoff Hurst's disputed goal but there has never been any bitterness between the players that such a huge game had been decided in such controversial fashion.

Charlton said: "There's always been great mutual respect between the two teams, ever since the game itself. They were good opponents and they've been good losers.

"We all appreciated that we had played in something special, a match that would never be forgotten for all sorts of reasons.

"There was the controversial third goal and the mistakes. It was unique. It was probably the best game of all the finals. There were six goals and it was back and forward, up and down and you knew if you made a mistake it was going to be punished.

"We all get on well. I see Franz Beckenbauer on a regular basis, some of the others not as much, but whenever we meet we remember what a great match we were involved in."

Charlton was joined at Wembley by five of his 1966 team-mates - brother Jack, George Cohen, Martin Peters, Roger Hunt and Gordon Banks.

Beckenbauer, Helmut Haller, Siegfried Held, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Willi Schulz, Uwe Seeler, Wolfgang Weber, Horst-Dieter Hottges, Max Lorenz, Gunter Bernard and Hans Tilkowski were there from the West Germany team.

The Slovakian linesman from the final, Dr Karol Galba, was also there.

Safety helmets were handed to players, featuring their names and original squad numbers, and they were cheered into the arena by 3,000 construction workers.

They strolled around at pitch level in steel-toe-capped boots but there was no sign of any hallowed turf, only sand and shale.

Charlton said: "The old Wembley pitch was beautiful. It was a lovely place to play and my one worry is whether we are able to get a playing surface like the old Wembley."