The Rational Ref | Referees need rules to deal with offensive language on the field
It seems that everyone knows verbal attacks when they hear them, but where do we draw the line?
What the heck was that? Are you kidding me? Fudge, sweet FA and sugar. These are all equivocations or double entendres for crude and nasty language that people use.
The rules in soccer clearly state players or substitutes will be sent from the field of play for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures. Unwholesome verbal attacks or gesturing can be directed at anyone, so that means if referees hear or see such behaviour then they will mete out disciplinary sanctions.
But what exactly constitutes offensive, insulting or abusive behaviour? Are there official definitions or standard guidelines? It seems that everyone knows but where does one draw the line? To a large extent culture plays a significant role, as well as understanding the context of what is being said.
In Hong Kong, public opinion appears divided towards primary school teacher Alpais Lam Wai-sze who was filmed shouting "What the f***" and other obscenities at police officers. While some have condemned her, others have defended her outburst.
Even in the EPL, TV close-ups show players regularly using the F-word, and cursing at referees, with no apparent sanctions. On the field of play, it is the match referee who is responsible for deciding what is permissible and what is not. The trouble is, referees have no guidelines. What may offend one referee and elicit a red card, another may deem worthy only of a caution, if at all.
In light of the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra affair, Liverpool FC recently issued their staff members - but not their players - with a list of unacceptable words and phrases they deem to be offensive, insulting and discriminatory towards others in the public sphere.
The list is part of a wider education programme run by the Anfield club and categorises offensive language according to race/religion, sexual orientation, gender and disability. For example, staff are taught not to use racial terms like "Chink" or "Nip"; anti-gay words "ladyboy" and "dyke"; gender expressions "princess" or "don't be a woman"; and disability labels like "midget" and "retard".