Refs have been given new powers to crack down on players chatting shit

The Premier League has had enough of multi-millionaire players abusing its match officials.

2016/17 could have a heap of nine-against-eight games if referees adhere to the league's newly-minted sanctions. While threatening behaviour and abusive language to referees and linesmen is a punishable offence, the league wants officials to cut it out. They have set out a criterion of yellow and red card offences for the upcoming season.

• Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official
• Respond aggressively to decisions
• Confront an official face to face
• Run towards an official to contest a decision
• Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials
• Physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner (e.g. an inquisitive approach to grab the official’s attention).
• A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official. The FA will continue to sanction teams when they surround match officials.

• Red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them.
• Physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational manner.

This should hopefully put an end to the infamous practice of crowding the ref after every decision he makes during the game in the attempts of intimidating him to change his mind (which, you know, never actually works). All those moaning that players don't show enough respect these days will be delighted. Congrats to your dad. Want to win a free TV or iPad? Enter the draw to win one by taking part in this quick survey.