GOONERSGUIDE EURO 2008 NEWS SECTION

This is our Euro 2008 news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

Euro 2008 News :: Euro 2008 refs to tackle dissent and violent play

Posted on 2008-05-03 by Gooner

Referees at Euro 2008 will come down hard on players who use excessive force or show dissent if they follow instructions they were given on Thursday.

The 12 referees who will officiate at the June tournament in Austria and Switzerland were handed a six-point list of instructions at the end of a four-day workshop at their Euro 2008 base near Zurich.

UEFA said that players would also be expected to respect officials' decisions.

"Referees can accept a spontaneous expression of frustration from players" the instructions state "but will firmly sanction players who show dissent to the referees by word or action."

The referees have also been instructed to control holding or pushing in the penalty area prior to corners and free kicks and to punish "simulation intended to deceive the referee" with yellow cards.

As is already the case in the Champions League, UEFA's disciplinary body will be able to use video evidence to punish players who fool the referee by diving or pretending to have been fouled.

The referees have also been told to deal firmly with mass confrontations with the instructions stating that "any players involved... have to realise that the main protester(s), including any who run over to join in, will get a yellow card."

The directives do not include any radical changes to existing practice in European competition but instead highlight the areas in which referees will be asked to place particular emphasis during Euro 2008.

UEFA president Michel Platini said last month that the organisation would use the tournament to call for more respect within the game with individual campaigns addressing the need to respect opponents, national anthems and referees.

Sourced From : Gonoers Football Blog

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