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Dec 08, 2023

Premier League chiefs to clamp down on referee abuse after Jose Mourinho tirade

JOHN CROSS COLUMN: Following Roma manager Jose Mourinho's appalling behaviour

JOHN CROSS COLUMN: Following Roma manager Jose Mourinho's appalling behaviour towards referee Anthony Taylor after the Europa League final, Premier League bosses are set to clamp down on abusive behaviour

Prem bosses will bring in tough new measures to improve respect towards referees for next season.

‌Roma boss Jose Mourinho's appalling behaviour after the Europa League final when he launched a foul-mouthed tirade at referee Anthony Taylor has brought the issue into sharp focus. PGMOL boss Howard Webb is keen to bring about change and is determined to bring in "real steps" for next season to clamp down on managers and players.

‌Clubs were warned last summer about managers’ behaviour in technical areas and also players surrounding referees and the Football Association issued heavy fines and touchline bans.‌

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp were among those punished while Manchester United were hit with a £65,000 fine after their players surrounded referee Chris Kavanagh in an FA Cup tie with Fulham in March.

They were tougher on managers and clubs - but want to get even stronger with their warnings and the PGMOL, FA and Premier League will engage in discussions over the coming weeks with clubs and captains to set out new guidelines.

‌Respect towards referees is at the top of the agenda but the behaviour of managers and also players surrounding refs are two key issues and could lead to bigger fines and longer bans. Using audio recordings from exchanges between managers and refs - it was trialed on Sky at the end of last season - could be played more regularly which is another deterrent.

Webb has been a really positive appointment for the PGMOL and, even though his VAR overhaul will inevitably take time, has the authority, transparency and respect to assert more control. The Premier League will hold its Annual General Meeting next Wednesday which is 24 hours after the 20 clubs - including newly-promoted Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley - also meet.

Clive Tyldesley has decided to step down from commentary duties with talkSPORT from next season. Tyldesley, one of TV's most recognisable and best loved voices, is working for CBS on the Champions League final and had been doing regular Premier League commentaries for the commercial radio station.

‌But Tyldesley made the decision to step away as, whilst not looking to preach to anyone else, felt uneasy at being expected to promote gambling companies and odds during commentaries. Former ITV commentator Tyldesley has huge respect for talkSPORT and it is purely a personal decision.

There is also an understanding that football and the media relies heavily on advertising from bookmakers.‌ But Premier League clubs agreed to stop shirt advertising in the future and Brentford striker Ivan Toney's high-profile case and his ban has put the debate into sharp focus.

‌Toney got an eight month ban for breaching Football Association rules on gambling - but was expected to wear a Brentford shirt which has a bookmaker as its main sponsor. England boss Gareth Southgate also spoke up in support of Toney. Tyldesley has already agreed to do some work with Big Step which is a charity trying to end all gambling and bookmaker advertising in football.

England are set to play their Euro 2024 qualifier with Ukraine in Austria. The venue for the fixture on September 9 has yet to be confirmed but UEFA have a three month deadline and the Football Association are expecting it to be rubber stamped next week.

‌Ukraine are playing Malta in Slovakia later this month and have previously played in Poland because of the ongoing war with Russia in their own country. But the FA are now expecting their game to be staged in Austria with Vienna the most likely venue with Klagenfurt having also previously been mentioned.

‌England's players report up for international duty on Sunday ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifiers with Malta and North Macedonia which, for many in the squad, will finally signal the end of their mammoth season on June 19.

Thursday nights could be very busy next season in the fixture list.‌ West Ham have now clinched a place in the Europa League - after winning the Conference League - to join Liverpool, Brighton and Aston Villa as four teams who will have European games on a Thursday.‌

The knock-on effect will be more Sunday and Monday night games next season but is a huge boost for Prem clubs to be so well represented along with the four Champions League clubs.

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