CARLO Ancelotti, the Everton manager, is one of the most successful football managers in the world having achieved great success with his previous clubs.

Therefore, it was a shame to see him sink to the level of abusing the referee, Chris Kavanagh after Everton’s game with Manchester United. Kavanagh tried to calm him down, but he wouldn’t let go and finally he was shown a red card.

This is the first season that team officials can be shown yellow and red cards.

Among other things, a red card can be issued for showing dissent towards or remonstrating with a match official.

This is clearly what Ancelotti did, and for which he was fined £8,000.

Frank Lampard, Chelsea idol and now their manager, says that now he is on ‘this’ side he understands the emotions involved.

"It’s not easy to keep your emotions in check," he is reported to have said.

"Managers should be given some leeway in terms of how much you lose your rag."

It’s so easy, isn’t it, to make the referee the whipping boy and I’m surprised a manager of Ancelotti’s experience was behaving in such manner.

We all accept football is a passionate game, but it’s no excuse for bad behaviour.

The truth is the technical area where the manager must remain, is the worst seat in the house and yet I’ve even seen them criticise offsides.

Arsene Wenger was famous for always criticising decisions against his own players, even if it happened in the far corner, but when asked about fouls by his own players would always plead the he couldn’t see it from his position.

The other problem is if players see the manager/coach openly criticising the referee, then they too think he is fair game.

Of course referees make mistakes, as do players, but I am reminded what one avid fan said: "I have looked at referees with evil intent whenever they make a blatantly wrong decision, ignoring that it is scientifically proven that awful refereeing decisions only affect the team you support."