Hard line shown on ref abuse

LEAGUE of Ireland players and managers face 12-match bans if they ”deliberately place a hand on or brush against” a match official this season.

And they had better not turn the air blue as pottymouths will be slapped with at least a three-game suspension for “foul, insulting or abusive language”.

Players or coaches making “disparaging remarks or comments about a match official on social media” will also be taken to task, according to the FAI.

Mirror Sport understands the FAI will only brief managers and captains of the sanctions for the first time at Tuesday’s league launch at Aviva Stadium.

Fresh measures to protect match officials were ratified at an FAI EGM on Monday and they come into effect next Tuesday, February 12.

Last night, the PFA Ireland expressed frustration that its members had not been made aware of the changes until they were set in stone.

While in favour of many aspects in this directive, the players body feels 12-matches for “placing a hand or brushing against” a match official is excessive.

In November, ref Daniel Sweeney was assaulted after officiating a game junior game in the Midlands between Horseleap United and Mullingar Town.

Three Mullingar Town players were banned from all football activity for a period of 40 years while a fourth – a former player – was banned from all football under the FAI.

A year-long ban will be dished out to a player, manager or coach who deliberately pushes, pulls, spits at, strikes, elbows, punches or kicks an official.

And a 36-month suspension will be handed down for head-butting or repeatedly punching or kicking a match official.

An identical 36-month ban applies for assaults involving more than one player or official from the same team.