David Moyes insists FA must show respect to clubs and players

Mar 26 2008

DAVID MOYES is calling for reciprocal respect from the FA, as the game’s governing body calls for better behaviour towards referees from players and clubs.

The Blues boss believes that referees’ refusal to admit to their own errors is frustrating players.

Everton were again punished by a poor decision against West Ham on Saturday, when a second Yakubu goal was incorrectly called offside.

The Blues also felt they were unfairly treated by officials earlier this season against Liverpool and Blackburn, and Moyes said: “It is important that we do all respect referees. But I have said many times that I see many incidents when I do not feel the FA have respect for clubs and the situations that arise.

“Now they seem to want us to stand up and help them. Well, it goes both ways.

“Clubs have made decisions (to appeal red cards) and been confronted with being told they are frivolous. Almost being told, ‘sorry, we do not respect you, so don’t bother coming to us and asking’.

“There are many times we have asked for decisions, and me personally, for the referee to maybe turn around and say he has got something wrong and made a mistake. But they won’t do that.

“So it seems it is okay to blame the players, while we have been asking as coaches and managers for things to improve. We know they want us to give them respect. They have to give us respect also.”

Everton, who have had poor disciplinary records in the past, have improved their image dramatically in recent seasons.

Moyes said: “Our own discipline is something we have worked to improve on. It is good that we have reduced the amount of cards and that we are being seen as a club that is trying to do things right.

“We have tried to do something about it. We have told the players we don’t want to see diving and we want them to just get on with things. Hopefully, referees have seen that.”