The Premier League, EFL and The FA have announced a collective undertaking to improve behavior across the game, citing intolerable behaviour by players and managers in their competitions have reached unacceptable levels in certain areas.
Their undertaking will task the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to take a stronger position and action towards unacceptable participant conduct. This will focus on behaviour towards match officials, with the aim of reducing disrespectful conduct such as aggressively challenging decisions or running from distance to confront an official.
Under the new regulations, cards will be shown based on severity of offense for physical contact with match officials, surrounding match officials, dissent towards match officials, offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials and conduct in the technical area.
"We and our clubs have been discussing for some time concerns that certain elements of player behaviour are overstepping the mark and it is our collective position that these types of behaviour should no longer be tolerated,” Richard Scudamore, Executive Chairman, the Premier League said.
"Things happen in the heat of the moment during fast and highly competitive football; we still want to see the passion fans enjoy and demand, but players and managers have to be aware there are lines that should not be crossed.”
