JFA chief executive Neville Davidson has made it clear he wants to improve the image of the game and wrote to referees last week urging them to clamp down on foul language and abusive gestures. To that end there was good news over the weekend, with just one caution for dissent, together with the usual sprinkling of yellows cards for unsporting behaviour, including fouls and shirt pulls.
With 16 red cards issued over seven weekends – and all of the Charity Cup – up to 24 October there was close to a 300 per cent increase in the number of dismissals on the first day of the clampdown. Officials will certainly be hoping that is just a freak result.
Full report in Tuesday’s JEP.
