Warning over 'abusive' refs

Premiership referees found guilty of swearing at players could find their top-flight status under threat, according to former Football Association compliance officer Graham Bean.

Bean believes an official using abusive language in general conversation can be tolerated but aiming it towards players is “unacceptable”.

Phil Dowd was accused by Wigan of verbal abuse “in an aggressive and menacing manner” during the defeat by Arsenal at the weekend, actions which would warrant a red card if committed by a player.

“For a referee to use abusive language to a player is totally unacceptable, he is there to control the game,” Bean revealed.

“Players, in the passion of the game, use insulting language not to the referee but as part and parcel of the game. The rules are clear if they swear at an official they will be sent off.

“If the boot is on the other foot and a referee is using abusive language at players, it should be taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly. If proven, action should without doubt be taken immediately against the referee.”

Bean, now a football disciplinary consultant, added: “Without a shadow of a doubt there would be serious implication for him.”

Some figures within football have suggested referees swearing can help relax the tension between officials and players, but Bean believes a line is crossed when the abuse is directed towards a particular person.

He added: “While man-management is an important part of refereeing, there clearly has to be a line of transgression where they have to be an authoritative figure.

“When it comes to swearing, if he has been swearing directly at the players, that is where action has to be taken.

“If it’s in general conversation – running along the pitch or part of man-management skills – it is second-nature to use industrial language as part of conversations. There has to be a distinguishing between a referee using abusive language ’to’ a player or using abusive language ’with’ a player as part of a conversation.”

Graham Barber, a former Premiership referee, agrees that it is difficult to justify an official swearing, as a player would be sent off for the same offence.

“It would be very difficult for a referee to carry that through if he is guilty of the same behaviour,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I think most of the referees at the top level are careful at how they speak to players.”

He added: “You have to decide what is abusive or offensive, that is not necessarily swearing.”