Chris Lonce, England

Hi i just wondred what are the rules on the manager speaking to the ref after the game is it allowed?

The manager/coach has to observe a 30 minute ‘cooling-off’ period after the match before visiting the referees’ dressing room and he is not allowed to visit the referee there during the half-time interval. However, after that time, the referee is expected to receive the manager /coach in his dressing room to discuss match incidents, should the manager/coach wish to do so. Of course, all parties are expected to conduct these discussions in a reasonable manner.

Michael Dunkley, England

what do you feel about younger players backchatting the referee

Of course, football is a passionate game and emotions are sometimes evident. We as referees don’t want to eliminate the passion but it’s important that we take firm action when player behaviour drops below an acceptable level. And at Premier League level, we are acutely aware of the fact that what is seen in games at that level is often emulated by youngsters. The FA Respect Programme is having an effect in educating everybody involved in the game about the importance of protecting the image of the game and whilst attitudes won’t change overnight, it’s important that everybody continues to work hard to achieve the aims set out in that programme.

Mark Brooks, England

Hi Howard I was hoping that you could help me. I am a Referee myself, and I have noticed that a few of you use one side of your yellow cards to write on for your cautions. I have looked around on web sites and I have not been able to see anything like the ones you guys use. I do have some that I bought from Official sports but they are not the best. I would hope that you could help me with this one and let me know where I can get them from. I hope you don't mind me asking you this question. I would like to wish you a happy new year and keep up the excellent refereeing going.

I use the cards which are supplied to us through the PGMOL/A & H International. I use a pencil to write directly onto the card and after the match, I erase the markings. The writing stays on the card, even in wet conditions. This system has worked well for me over several seasons now.

John Paul Harrison, England

I was wondering, regarding pushes in the back, if a player is backing into a defender and the defender has his hands on the players back, can you give a foul to the defender for backing in? thanks

This is one of the more difficult areas on which a referee has to judge. Positioning is important and a ‘side-on’ view is the key here. A player who backs into an opponent should be penalised and a clue is to see if the player backing in is looking at the ball or at his opponent. An attacking player is entitled to watch the ball and take up a position where he feels the ball is going to drop in order to head/control it, but he is not entitled to use his body to back into the opponent first in order to prevent his opponent from challenging for the ball. It’s important that the referees adopts a position to enable him to see if backing-in occurs, or whether the defender is pushing the attacker in the back. Sometimes both these things occur and the referee should penalise the act which occurs first.