The FA Chairman has taken the time to remind professionals across the country that they have a responsibility in leading as examples for young footballers.

And he believes that, even though mistakes can be made by the officials, the players and managers have to respect the decisions of the referee.

"All of us have a responsibility to promote everything that is good about the game," Thompson explains. "Players that are playing at the very highest level of the game also have a responsibility to play within the laws, to respect their opponents and, most of all to respect the referee.

"The referee is not always going to be right but every player and manager has a responsibility to respect them. They are a necessity.

"Standards of refereeing are now higher than ever before and they make honest decisions.

"I think the laws of the game are specific and if they were universally carried out I don’t think there would be a problem. Obviously each match is different and has its own pressures. But referees also have a responsibility to carry out and interpret the laws of the game and will be given the power to enforce this."

With English football now at it's most high profile as matches are screened throughout the world, Thompson believes it is more important than ever before that players are on their best behaviour.

But he also says managers have a role to play when it comes to responsibility within the game.

Bosses have the chance to voice their opinions every week through the media, and occasionally take the opportunity to raise concerns over officials or decisions made within certain matches.

But ahead of the 2005/06 campaign Thompson has made it clear that managers should go straight to The FA if they have any queries.

"If a manager is not happy with a referee and they are asked the question after the game, we would like them not to make that comment in public and undermine the authority of the referee but to use the official channels instead," he insists.

"Don’t misunderstand me, you can get very emotional about football. It would be wrong to take the emotion out of it. It’s part of the reason why it has so many followers and there is nothing wrong with that.

"But what there is something wrong with, and this is the fundamental issue, is undermining the authority of the referee. That is where you cross the line. Any comment that you make that undermines the authority of the referee, you cross that line and therefore should be dealt with.

"You cannot have the privilege of being a manager without the responsibility."