Lack of respect in football trickles from the top down

I have been in the privileged position of being a season ticket holder at a winning club this year (it hasn't always been the case, but then we haven't always had to play in Divison 3). As such, you would expect an air of content around the place. No such thing. Despite only dropping 5 points at home all year, I have yet to attend a home game where the referee and his assistants are not branded a "prick" or a "disgrace". I mean what do these people expect? There is nothing tempting for a Pierluigi Collina-type figure in Forfar vs Albion. You cannot hope for the very best officials for mostly part-time players. And most of the time these "pricks" actually get it right, but you don't hear the same fans congratulating the officials on their excellent, well-thought out decision do you?

I have come to the conclusion that it all comes down to frustration with your own team's performance, giving a need to qualify this inadequacy by blaming it on the referee. This is a culture that directly stems from the highest levels - Sir Alex Ferguson having a pop at Alan Wiley's fitness levels to "protect his players" being a prime example. Just come out and say it Alex - your guys just were not good enough on the day and did not execute their best-laid plans. End of! Ditto the Steve Bruces and Neil Warnocks of this world, who never seem to be able to get off the cases of referees. Seeing the very best in the game indulging in these activities sets a bad example to lesser mortals such as Livingston fans!

Respect is a difficult thing to gain in sport, when so much can be riding on one big moment. However, some sports have found it easier than others. The other day in an IPL match, Adam Gilchrist, captain of the Deccan Chargers, was heard on the stump microphone joking with umpire Billy Bowden about the fact that he had incorrectly chosen not to refer a stumping. Gilchrist is an old hand and knows the line - it's all very well in the shortest form but questioning the umpire in a Test match would lose you a good portion of your match fee. Gilchrist and Bowden had earned each other's respect over a long period of time, so this incident could be taken in the manner in which it was intended. Just today, I was umpiring in a friendly cricket tournament - some dodgy decisions given (not on my watch I can assure you), but the game was played in the right spirit (with the exception of one fat twat who insisted on picking fault with everything) and all players respected the umpires decision. Respect at the highest level breeds respect at all levels

Footballers are harder to control because of the fast pace of the game and the fact that any fine would come of no consequence to those at the highest level. Banning would be seen in some quarters as too harsh. But please, for my own sanity, can we at least acknowledge that referees do a hard job and most of them actually do a good job - let's keep unnecessary grievances under wraps. Especially when 14 points clear at the top!

Technology is just one aspect where football could learn from other sports
RM