Premier League, Football League, FA Announce New 'Intolerable Behaviour' Rules

A joint-initiative between the Premier League, Football League and the Football Association has been announced in a bid to cut down on "intolerable behaviour" displayed by players and managers. 

A statement released by the Premier League on Wednesday said the three associations have told match officials to toughen their stance and take action against "unacceptable participant conduct."

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

The new rules outline that players will be shown a red card if they use "offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" toward an official. 

It also highlighted a yellow card will be issued to players who make contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner, while contact of an aggressive nature will constitute a red card.

These new rules have presumably been put in place to enforce the desired relationship between players and officials, with the former having overstepped their boundaries "over the past four seasons."

Per the Premier League's statement, some of the other rules include awarding yellow cards to any player who should:

"

- Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official

- Respond aggressively to decisions

- Confront an official face to face

- Run towards an official to contest a decision

"

There will also be cards issued to "at least one player" when two or more players surround the match official, an outcome that can often result in time being added at the end of the match.

Richard Scudamore, executive chairman of the Premier League, also elaborated upon why the laws have been revised in a statement released via the Premier League's official website:

"

We and our clubs have been discussing for some time concerns that certain elements of player behaviour are overstepping the mark – the mass confrontations, overt displays of dissent and offensive language. We are viewed by millions week in week out – including lots of young people – and it is our collective position that these types of behaviour should no longer be tolerated.

[...]

Things happen in the heat of the moment during fast and highly competitive football; we still want to see the passion fans enjoy and demand, but players and managers have to be aware there are lines that should not be crossed.

"

It's true that football has witnessed an increase in player petulance over recent years, and Scudamore added the aforementioned organisations will be "communicating this to our managers, players and fans over the summer" to enforce the new rules.

There is a potential downside to the tightening of the laws, however, as bookmaker Coral pointed out any crackdown on swearing could impact the competition:

Fans can hope the result of the new laws is ultimately a better end product in the quality of games, with players and managers maintaining their cool more in order to bring about the best football.

In time, we may come to witness a more respectful standard of the sport at the elite level, one the younger generation can safely watch and take inspiration from.