Close to where I live there is a subway which is often daubed with graffiti. Much as I dislike this form of vandalism, I could just about put up with it where it showed a degree of art in its execution. What I couldn't stand was when racist slogans and obscenities started to
appear.
I phoned the local police station who said that they would send the beat officer along. That'll be the first in twenty five years I thought, but don't knock it. Then I phoned Wokingham District Council and the next day workmen turned up armed with paint and brushes.
That evening I set off on my thrice weekly exercise around the local roads (yes,
referees do have to keep fit) and passed through the subway. I was pleased to see that the racist comments had been obliterated but I was surprised that the workmen had not painted out the obscenities. When I mentioned this to someone afterwards, they said perhaps what I considered obscene, the workmen didn't.
This very question is often quoted about foul language on the football field. It is something that the football law-makers have understood.
Law 12 used to say that it was a sending-off offence to use 'foul or abusive language'. What exactly is foul language? Does it mean swearing and, if so, what constitutes swearing? Are we going to penalise the odd 'bloody' that a player comes out with? Some referees even suggested that the Football Association should draw up a list of swear words that would be unacceptable. The problem is of course that language and attitudes move on.
The present wording of the law is slightly different. A player must be sent off now if he uses 'insulting, abusive or offensive language' It's worth pointing out that the law doesn't say that it has to be directed at the referee or his assistant to
fall foul of the law. If a player uses abusive or insulting language, it is obviously
going to be directed at someone but it is still an offence if it is at an opponent, his team mates, or even spectators. This also includes racial comments.
Offensive language, on the other hand, doesn't have to be directed at anyone to be against football law. We still come back to the question, what is offensive? It's all a question of tolerance levels we are often told. One referee will allow words that another won't, perhaps depending on his background. Some referees will have a different tolerance level depending on where they are refereeing. In the middle of an open park with no-one around, they will allow more than if they are refereeing at a ground surrounded by houses or perhaps other users in close proximity.
Some parish councils have threatened to ban football at their village recs. This is simply because people living close by, or who exercise their dogs in the park, or parents with young children using the swings, have complained about the frequency and volume of offensive language.
Personally I think we all know the words that cause offence and as referees we should do our utmost to cut them out. This doesn't mean that I send off any player who emits an expletive during the game. But I do warn the player that it is unacceptable no matter who they were aiming it at. I find almost without fail that this has the desired effect. Of course I may have to remind them as the match goes on, but I often find that they apologise when they do it.
The reason I think we should do our best to reduce the amount of offensive language is not just because it says so in the laws of the game. In my experience, offensive language is almost always aggressive and if left unchecked, can easily lead to aggressive behaviour.
Dick Sawdon Smith