Friday, September 07, 2007

Refs to crack down on wrestling

Referees are to crack down on jostling in the penalty area before free kicks and corners, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Thursday.

The unwritten practice of kicking the ball out of play when a player is injured and returning it to the team which originally had possession is also to stop, UEFA said following a meeting of referees at its headquarters in Nyon.

According to UEFA, the decisions were made to combat "aspects of the game which are harming its image".

"The penalty area is not a wrestling ring and shirt pulling is not part of football, so as Chairman of the UEFA Referees Committee I will support the referees who have the courage to punish holding and pushing in the penalty area," said UEFA referees committee chairman, Angel MarĂ­a Villar Llona in a statement.

"Referees have been instructed to initially give a verbal warning to players who are using their arms illegally to hold, push, jostle for position and a further infringement...should be punished by a yellow or red card."

The decision to stop a match to allow an injured player to receive treatment will now lie squarely with the referee, UEFA said. Teams should not stop playing or kick the ball out of play unless told to do so by the match official.

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