The respect campaign

World of Sport • Published 3 Mar 2009 10:50

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THE Football Association's respect campaign runs right across football from the Premier League, down to grass roots but should they be doing more?

They are right that officials at every level deserve respect and that it should include officials, players, management and supporters but the disciplinary system is run almost exclusively for Football League clubs due to the fact that video evidence is critical in an appeal against a debatable red card.

It is fine for the likes of a Championship outfit such as Reading or Premier League sides like Manchester and Arsenal to appeal against punishment dished out by referees because of the televised coverage they receive.

However, clubs in the Southern League such as Slough Town or Windsor Eton would seriously struggle to find the resources so cannot send in video evidence.

If they were to lose an influential player to an unfair three game ban for instance that could cost them valuable points in the race for promotion or to avoid the drop, which in this climate could end up severely damaging a club financially.

And if a club was to end up disbanding the repercussions for the community would not be good, especially if they had been well established for a while.

That is of course a worst-case scenario but nevertheless, should the FA help fund video recording of football from a certain level upwards, e.g. the Southern League?

Surely that would help improve the standard of refereeing at Non League football as well and in turn produce better young referees who can move through the system.

It is something Windsor manager Keith Scott would certainly be a fan of and I have no doubt that his counterparts at this level would be right behind him.

This blog appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Mar 09

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