Will this stop players mobbing the referee?

The European football governing body Uefa has informed competing nations at this summer’s Euros that only team captains will be allowed to approach referees to dispute decisions. It is hoped this will reduce the amount of pressure placed on referees and allow for smoother and more orderly officiating. So, two’s company but three or more will be deemed an unlawful assembly and could result in yellow or even red cards. It’s a bold move, but is it necessary and will it work?

The idea comes from IFAB (the International Football Association Board) who describe themselves as the ‘guardians of football’s laws and regulations’. Their proposals appear to have been fast-tracked into a top-tier international tournament by an image-conscious governing body, leaving little time for objections. Roberto Rosetti Uefa’s managing director of refereeing described the rationale for the no-go zone around the officials as being so that ‘the decision can be relayed in a timely and respectful manner’.