Deliberately coughing at a ref or opponent is now a red card offence

[uneasydaz]

Players who deliberately cough at opponents or referees can be shown red or yellow cards under new FA guidelines issued amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The instructions to referees taking charge of games when COVID-19 restrictions are in place will come into force immediately and be applied at all levels of the game.

The FA said action should be taken when "the referee is certain someone deliberately, and from close range, coughed into the face of an opponent or match official."

It added that the offence would fall under the category of "using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.

"If the incident was not severe enough to merit a sending-off, a caution could be issued for 'unsporting behaviour - shows a lack of respect for the game'."

The document added that referees must not look to punish "routine" coughing and should remind players to avoid spitting on the ground, although it is not an act of misconduct.

 

[Jamie1873]

Absolutely should be.

You can get charged if you do it to someone in the street.

 

[Worthy_Candidate]

It should carry a bigger penalty than a red card. It should be treated as a crime with a potential jail sentence. As should spitting.

 

[The Railway Bear]

What kind of person would even think to do that?

 

[Brian Laudrup]

Should be a season ban at least

 

[RFC_Champions]

Should be jail never mind a red card FFS

 

[LarkfiedLoyalNS]

Bring back stoning for the coughers and especially spitters.

Scumbags.

 

[Wamphray_Loyal]

What kind of person would even think to do that?

I would imagine thumbheid would fall into that category .

 

[Baxter Blue]

Jail. End of.

 

[tomvallance1983]

Why the %^*& would you do that anyway?

 

[Papatango]

We all can think of teams and countries where if someone were to behave like this none of us would be surprised.

 

[Eddie Doc]

I would imagine thumbheid would fall into that category .

First person who came to mind for me too.

 

[RenfrewBear72]

Absolute scumbag behaviour, on par with spitting at someone.

Red card? Should be a 10 game ban and up in court.

 

[Barrymoped]

I can’t imagine that being to common an offence, rain this country. In fact I’d be amazed if it ever actually happens

 

[HamiltonBear]

Can see us down to 7 players every game in winter.

 

[mdingwall]

Clatty bastards need strung up by their haw maws.

 

[coplandrearl36]

What about running up to an opponent, sticking your face at his and slavering all over him because he fouled a team mate.

 

[Dashboard Jesus]

What about running up to an opponent, sticking your face at his and slavering all over him because he fouled a team mate.

That will be the mhanks fucked then. Can’t see this being enforced.

 

[Chunky Dawz]

Why anyone would consider doing that in the first place is beyond me. It’s manky...

 

[Rickymck]

Should be a red card without Covid! With Covid, any of our players do it then kicked out of the club. Jail would be difficult to get if they just got a negative result clearing them to play.

 

[Arkanoid]

If you done it in Amateur football you would be Sine die, should be no different for a professional

 

[blueman14]

Was minging thing to do even before the pandemic.

 

[Jase]

You have to ask what is so wrong with society that they feel they even need to bring this up and have a rule for it.

I know footballers aren’t always mastermind contenders but I can’t think of one who is sufficiently brain damaged to even think of doing this.

 

[Krissie]

What about wiping your nose on a corner flag ?

 

[BillySimpson]

Absolute scumbag behaviour, on par with spitting at someone.

Red card? Should be a 10 game ban and up in court.

Worse, imo, in the current situation

 

[devilman]

What kind of person would even think to do that?

Oh, I don't know. Some footballers sense of decency does go out the window completely sometimes. Racist remarks, biting people and spitting on them - that's just one guy. Others have just lost the plot also.

It should be more severe than a red card. Not only is it potentially dangerous in the current climate it's just a f**king weird thing to do. Even if it is a red card on the day it should be a suspension for the rest of the season or something as well. Not to mention the Police getting involved.

 

[Mexi]

What kind of person would even think to do that?

This is like one of Derren Brown's mind tricks. You post that comment and everyone automatically thinks of thumbheid

 

[Ambiorix]

They need to clamp down on the casual grog on the ground too. I've never understood why footballers do this.

 

[Fergie90]

Thumb will blatantly cough on some poor St.Mirren player and sportscene will be adamant it was a sneeze.

 

[fazerboy]

Thumb will blatantly cough on some poor St.Mirren player and sportscene will be adamant it was a sneeze.

Would that not be just as bad ?

 

[Fergie90]

Would that not be just as bad ?

It's harder to sneeze on command I'd say mate.

 

[Scarface]

I have never seen a player cough during a game to be honest.

 

[stein and johnston]

It sums up the world that we live in,that kind of message has to be put out there.
And it’s aimed at sportsmen who are highly paid and influential.

 

[JimForrest]

The very fact a rule had to be brought in to cover this shows how low some seem prepared to go. It should be an arrestable offence on the pitch or not.

 

[MightyGersLand!]

Bring back stoning for the coughers and especially spitters.

Scumbags.

Footballers shouldn't do drugs.

 

[MarcoNegri]

Can see Alfie getting a retrospective red card on Monday after the compliance officer reviews Sunday's game and finds an instance of him covering his mouth with this hand and clearing his throat when 20 yards away from any other player.

 

[Ped78]

Players who deliberately cough at opponents or referees can be shown red or yellow cards under new FA guidelines issued amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The instructions to referees taking charge of games when COVID-19 restrictions are in place will come into force immediately and be applied at all levels of the game.

The FA said action should be taken when "the referee is certain someone deliberately, and from close range, coughed into the face of an opponent or match official."

It added that the offence would fall under the category of "using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.

"If the incident was not severe enough to merit a sending-off, a caution could be issued for 'unsporting behaviour - shows a lack of respect for the game'."

The document added that referees must not look to punish "routine" coughing and should remind players to avoid spitting on the ground, although it is not an act of misconduct.

Who would even do that?

 

[Dcalm]

I always had the belief that coughing and/or spitting on someone is worse than a punch.

 

[Kilpatricknick]

ona side note they need to bring back the "no spitting" signs you used to get on the top deck of corpy buses. Nothing about smoking swallying winching or even fighting - just NO SPITTING!

 

[bullen an la]

What kind of person would even think to do that?

probably someone like brown

 

[Supermac1872]

If you spit or cough at an opponent, they should be allowed a free hit without repercussions.

 

[whisp76]

What kind of person would even think to do that?

• NARoss Doohan (G)
• NARyan Mullen (G)
• 1Vasilios Barkas (G)
• 29Scott Bain (G)
• 65Conor Hazard (G)
• NADaniel Church (D)
• NAKerr McInroy (D)
• NALee O'Connor (D)
• NAStephen Welsh (D)
• 2Christopher Jullien (D)
• 3Greg Taylor (D)
• 23Boli Bolingoli Mbombo (D)
• 30Jeremie Frimpong (D)
• 35Kristoffer Ajer (D)
• 44Hatem Abed Elhamed (D)
• 56Anthony Ralston (D)
• NAKundai Benyu (M)
• NAMark Hill (M)
• NAScott Robertson (M)
• 6Nir Biton (M)
• 8Scott Brown (M)
• 12Ismaila Soro (M)
• 17Ryan Christie (M)
• 18Tom Rogic (M)
• 20Marian Shved (M)
• 21Olivier Ntcham (M)
• 27Mohamed Elyounoussi (M)
• 28Luca Connell (M)
• 42Callum McGregor (M)
• 49James Forrest (M)
• 52Ewan Henderson (M)
• 77Karamoko Dembele (M)
• NAJonathan Afolabi (F)
• NAJack Aitchison (F)
• NAArmstrong Okoflex (F)
• NAGrant Savoury (F)
• 9Leigh Griffiths (F)
• 10Vakoun Issouf Bayo (F)
• 11Patryk Klimala (F)
• 19Michael Johnston (F)
• 22Odsonne Edouard (F

take yer pick

 

[HamiltonBear]

I have never seen a player cough during a game to be honest.

Heard plenty being told to though.


Usually preceded by a Fu.

 

[tottie beck]

How can they tell if it’s deliberate? A player could have a genuine reason for coughing.

Also, about yelling at refs or opponents after a poor call or bad tackle, surely that’s as bad?

 

[Thommo2006]

Hang on has this been a problem?

I'd imagine nobody would be doing this

 

[Jamie1873]

Hang on has this been a problem?

I'd imagine nobody would be doing this

Happening quite a bit, unfortunately. Had first hand experience of it at work.

 

[slacker]

How can they tell if it’s deliberate? A player could have a genuine reason for coughing.

Also, about yelling at refs or opponents after a poor call or bad tackle, surely that’s as bad?

I guess it would be deliberately coughing in the direction of somebody that you are having an altercation with rather than coughing into say a jersey or hand.

 

[GazzaG]

It's only a matter of time before we see a player cough then a player near him goes down holding his face.

 

[Thommo2006]

Happening quite a bit, unfortunately. Had first hand experience of it at work.

Sorry i meant on the football pitch.

 

[billytheflid]

Happening quite a bit, unfortunately. Had first hand experience of it at work.

That's grim, I hope you reported the bassa or lamped them.