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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Exclusive by Sean Ingle

Football authorities in talks to clamp down on dissent amid rise in incidents

Aleksandar Mitrovic received a red card and an eight-game ban for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh.
Aleksandar Mitrovic received a red card and an eight-game ban for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

English football’s governing bodies are in talks to bring in measures to clamp down on dissent due to concern over the rise in bad behaviour towards officials. With two weeks of the season remaining, 534 cards have been issued to players for dissent in the top four flights of English football, according to Opta – easily surpassing last season’s tally of 477, as well as the 421 cards shown in 2020-21.

Talks are under way between the Premier League, Football Association, Football League and PGMOL, the body responsible for referees, to address the issue.

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