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Nigel Owens

Nigel Owens column: The Women's Euros proves footballers can treat referees with respect, I hope the men learn from this

I'm told there will be close to 90,000 fans inside Wembley Stadium on Sunday night, with millions more watching on TV, for the England versus Germany Women's Euros final.

Wow. That is a fabulous ending to what has been a thoroughly enjoyable tournament and, just as importantly, one played in exactly the right spirit.

With it being on mainstream television, I've dipped in and out over the last few weeks and clearly it has captured the imagination of the public.

Read more: Nigel Owens explains the red and yellow card decisions that caused controversy this summer

To see such large crowds at women's matches is wonderful, as well as the huge TV audiences. The interest is there for the right reasons, because people are enjoying it. They are going to the stadiums because they are passionate about the sport they are watching, rather than some tick box exercise.

The standard of football on display is hugely impressive; I've seen some great moments of skill, executed at a fast pace. Yes okay, it may not be as fast-paced as the men's game, but it's pretty impressive, I must say.

But, as a referee, perhaps what has impressed me the most is the respect being shown by the players towards officials.

We're not seeing them screaming at the referee, surrounding her to try to influence a decision, or rolling around on the floor in supposed agony.

No, these women are playing with the right attitude, with a smile on their faces, and once a decision is made, whether it is for or against them, they just get on with the game.

I really hope the men's game will learn something from this, how much more enjoyable football is, and how the fans accept decisions more readily when the players just get on with it instead of displaying dissent.

When I speak to people about the Euros this is one of the things they invariably bring up with me, how nice it is to see players not diving about trying to gain an unfair advantage - and, in doing so, putting unfair pressure on the referee.

If Joe Public is saying this, and I'm sure this kind of feedback applies across the UK, surely there's a message somewhere there for the men's game?

Part of the enjoyment from the people, it seems, is from the very conduct of the players involved.

Look, I've said many times that rugby is not perfect, we have issues of our own to deal with and as such can't get on our high horse. But one area where rugby has historically differed to football down the decades is with the respect shown to the referee, an acceptance of decisions and a willingness to then get on with the next phase of play.

This is hugely important at every level of the game, but particularly so at grassroots where, on a Sunday morning, a referee is giving up his time and it's grossly unfair if he becomes the subject of abuse.

The elite players are role models, they do have a responsibility in how they conduct themselves because youngsters will mirror what they see on TV. As such, what we're witnessing with the women players at these Euros surely has to be an enormous plus.

Lots of young girls will take up sport on the back of what they've been watching in recent days; just as importantly, they're having the right example set for them from the very top and hopefully will mirror that in their own games at community level.

As for the final itself, well England downed Sweden, who were second only to the USA in the FIFA women's rankings, while Germany beat France, who are rated third.

So perhaps two countries who weren't quite expected to get this far will contest the final, one of them lifting the trophy on Sunday night.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on this; there are people far more qualified than me on the nuances of the women's international game.

But from what I have seem, I have to say England are looking strong at the moment. They have home advantage, with 90,000 fans inside Wembley, and that could just tilt it their way, be enough to see them over the line.

In terms of the future though, what's most important is that amid the pressure of the occasion and 90 minutes ahead, and with such a vast TV audience across Europe and indeed the world, the England and Germany players continue to conduct themselves in the right manner.

These Euros have brought undoubted respect to the referee from everyone involved and that has been a key part of the enjoyment. Let's hope that is seen through right to the end and the correct example is set for millions of youngsters watching on from afar.

I also wish to wind up by saying a very well done to the Welsh official Cheryl Foster, for the way she handled the Germany versus France semi-final. A tough game, lots of pressure, but managed well by a somewhat inexperienced referee. Well done to Cheryl and best wishes for the future too - which looks to be a very bright one.

READ MORE NIGEL OWENS COLUMNS

Time for players to stop the histrionics and dissent that is creeping into the game

The kind unseen gesture Owen Farrell and the England team made to Nigel Owens that put his Twitter trolls to shame

The rugby versus football debate in Wales doesn't interest me, I want the two sports to thrive

I know what Jake Daniels has been going through, his courage proves football can mirror rugby

Rugby can't paper over acts of thuggery and we must improve citing system

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