An important part of Respect is the need for captains like you to work alongside referees to ensure a better playing atmosphere between players and officials.

Given you, as the captain, are the main point of contact for the referee under Respect, it's important you understand what referees have been asked to do:

Firstly, the referee has been requested to work with you to manage the players and the game effectively.

However, in his/her own right, the referee must control the game by applying the Laws of the Game. This includes dealing firmly with any open show of dissent by players (e.g. not to move away from the incident, but stay and deal with it).

The type of behaviour which often gives rise to problems in matches, and where captains and referees need to work together, can be described as 'harassment' and 'challenging behaviour' towards the referee.

Here's some examples of each:

Harassment:

  • Running towards the referee in an aggressive manner
  • Players surrounding the referee to protest a decision
  • Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an attempt to influence the referee or undermine his/her responsibilities

Challenging:

  • Continually asking the referee questions about decisions made obviously in an attempt to undermine his/her position
  • Passing comment to other players about a referee's decision-making
  • Aggressively running at a referee to object about decisions
  • Repeatedly moaning at the referee about decisions
  • Gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving of the hand