Project Restart chiefs have missed a big trick already by not putting a mic on refs

WORLD football’s two most powerful men were commendably quick to say anyone repeating the sort of gesture made by Jadon Sancho last weekend would not be punished by FIFA or UEFA.

Sancho (below) removed his shirt to reveal a T-shirt with a message demanding justice for George Floyd.

Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin almost immediately said their organisations would not have taken action against Sancho.

In fact, FIFA’s Infantino said Sancho’s demonstration “would deserve applause not punishment”.

Absolutely. And maybe FIFA and UEFA can toughen up their fights against racism to deserve applause.

It was less than a year ago when racist behaviour stained England’s match in Sofia and UEFA responded by fining Bulgaria £65,000 and suspending half of a two-game stadium closure for two years.

It was almost as weak as when FIFA, in 2018, fined Russia £22,000 after racist chants aimed at French players during a friendly in St Petersburg.

FIFA and UEFA, Ceferin and Infantino talk the talk well enough – it is time they walked the walk.

IT seems television or Premier League executives – or both – believe football in the raw is not enough for the great British public.

They are probably right.

A lot consume football as they consume social media.

Distilled to a few characters, delivered in short, sharp bursts, demanding only a bite-sized chunk of your precious attention.

Viewing figures can be massaged this way and that, but the number of people who will sit and watch 90 minutes of a match in which they are not emotionally invested is relatively low.

And there are going to be a lot of matches on your screen over the next couple of months, all played without the genuine sound effects of a heaving crowd.

For the TV people and for Premier League officials slavishly keen to satisfy their television paymasters, that will create a noise void that needs filling, hence a section of Project Restart entitled ‘Enhancing the Broadcast Product’.

What best enhances the broadcast product is a Kevin De Bruyne pass, a Harry Kane finish, a Virgil van Dijk tackle, a David de Gea save and/or cock-up, but you can see the point.

No matter how healthy your appetite for football’s return, 92 games behind closed doors in a six-week spell might just get a little bit samey.

For variation, TV companies are keen to have greater access to managers and players.

Apparently, clubs have said no to cameras in the dressing-room and half-time player interviews, but there might be more time with managers in the build-up to games.

Fine. But football, Project Restart and television are missing a trick here. Never mind hearing more from players and managers, this would have been the perfect opportunity to wire up the referees.

Hearing referees explaining their decisions, listening to their communications with VAR operatives in Stockley Park, getting an audio profile of what they have to deal with from players, would enhance the broadcast no end.

There would be those – and we’re all guessing Mike Dean – who would relish it and those who might not fancy it.

If nothing else, it would lessen the abusive backchat.

Based solely on casual observation, the absence of a baying live audience appears to have lessened dissent in the Bundesliga.

Imagine if players knew their protests could be picked up by a microphone.

The broad argument is that dissent is part and parcel of the game. It is even shared by referees, some of whom enjoy a verbal to and fro with players. Remember Dan Gosling taking exception to Jonathan Moss aiming a few barbs at Bournemouth players?

But dissent from players and coaches is a serious issue. If it is seen to be accepted at the elite level, it sends a message to grassroots.

That is why officials will continue to face verbal and physical abuse when play returns to the Sunday league playing fields.

Not only would a microphone let us hear the rationale behind officiating, it would deter casual abuse that has become the norm.

It is not going to happen in Project Restart – and the FA and Premier League have shown no appetite for the idea.

But they are missing a trick. If nothing else, in the era of the strictly limited attention span, it would enhance the broadcast product.

ONE of Jurgen Klopp’s endearing traits is to talk lovingly about his “boys”. Perhaps the German

(left) should have a word with his employers and ask them what has been going on with the “girls”. Whatever your take on the points-per-game ruling that confirmed Liverpool’s relegation from the Women’s Super League, one win from 14 games was not a good look for a club about to restart the Premier League with a 25-point lead. So, after they celebrate their first men’s title in 30 years, maybe the Anfield hierarchy can start trying to sort out the women’s team.

THE first two of BBC’s four live Premier League games will be Bournemouth v Crystal Palace and Everton’s trip to Norwich City. Sky and BT Sport had a say in which games the Beeb were allocated. They are clearly all heart. IF bookmakers have not yet started a book on which manager will make five substitutions in one hit, they are missing a trick. Jose Mourinho (right), of course, would be odds-on favourite.