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Where is the RESPECT! - Vicki (11th Dec 2011 - 20:58:50) Today I watched a group of school boys playing their hearts out in a league football match. They were polite and respectful to their managers, opponents and the referee even when the tide turned against them at times. The result was in our favour but our opponents were gracious in defeat. However.....on the adjacent pitch was, what can only be described as the most atrocious and appalling behaviour I have witnessed in years of attending football matches, both adult and junior. I do not feel it is appropriate to name the adult team involved, but I can assure Liphook United that it was not a team related to the club. The language was colourful at times....and I am no prude or silly enough not to expect it in the heat of the moment......but the total lack of respect shown to the officials was astounding. I am aware that there may have been some decisions that the players diagreed with, and again I am not blind to the fact that there will always be disagreements, but the fact that the players felt it acceptable to verbally abuse the ref and then express indignation at being sent off defies belief! One player even sought to prevent his team mate being sent off by claiming that he had sworn at the ref! I would have thought that the number of \'toys being thrown out of prams\' would only be seen in a creche! I am amazed that there was enough room to play with all the teddies and toy trains on the pitch! I was so proud of the boys that we were there to watch and utterly ashamed of the individuals that were \'pretending\' to be adults. I believe that this was a quarter final match....I have no idea of the score but, to be honest, anyone who truly enjoys football would probably have lost any interest. If the future for our boys is to play in Pub or local leagues, I sincerely hope that they maintain the good values and behaviour instilled in them by their current management team and parents. My own son witnessed some of the antics and was very clear that he thought it was \'out of order\'. Please can someone tell me if the FA Respect Policy applies to Pub League Football? If not it is about time it did. Clear up your act guys. It\'s not big and it is certainly not clever.

Re: Where is the RESPECT! - Brian (11th Dec 2011 - 21:54:44) As a casuall viewer I sometimes watch under-'adult' football on tv and see the same things. They all seem to agree with the ref (ok there probably are exceptions), no dissent, good to watch. Adult football always seems to be 'what can I get away with'. And shirt pulling - it's wrong so why don't teams have paper shirts that rip and defeat the pulling? .... oh stupid me, because they do it as well!

Re: Where is the RESPECT! - Respectful (13th Dec 2011 - 01:46:08) I am reliably informed that the pub team in question were from the Royal Anchor. I further believe that they were requested, mid match, to moderate their language. Their response was not positive. In fact, it seems that blows were exchanged between players/spectators in the car park after the match. Great example for the youngsters, eh!

Re: Where is the RESPECT! - Vicki (13th Dec 2011 - 17:59:18) Why am I not surprised that they were less than 'positive' about moderating their language! A limited vocab doesn't include the words 'moderation' or self-control!

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