Herefordshire FA chief executive and referee Jim Lambert sees red over bad language (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire FA chief executive and referee Jim Lambert sees red over bad language

12:00pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

HEREFORDSHIRE FA chief executive Jim Lambert believes referees should crack down on players who use bad language.

And Lambert, who thinks Premier League stars must lead the way, made his point in the match between Mercia Athletic and Sinkums.

In stoppage time, he heard a Sinkums player swear in the penalty area, and issued an indirect free-kick to Mercia just 12 yards from goal.

“There is no need for bad language.

“If referees start booking Premier League stars, it’ll set the tone and the youngsters watching will learn to cut it out that way,” said the referee. The official, who has 39 years of whistle-blowing experience, said: “The laws of the game say any foul language should be punished but if you try to impose that now, no game would get past the first 10 minutes.

“My style is quite simple. There’s always going to be swearing on the pitch but if they want to swear at me, they’re not going to stay on the pitch. I won’t be afraid to issue a card.”

After a weather-affected season, Lambert added that it has been a frustrating campaign for Herefordshire football.

“The weather has been very poor and we now have a backlog of fixtures meaning that everyone will have to be playing two or three times a week between now and the middle of May.

“We may even have to extend the season into the second week of May but after that, everybody seems to want to play cricket.”

Lambert first refereed in 1974 and he doesn’t have any intention of hanging up his whistle.

“I’ll keep going for as long as I can. I’ve enjoyed it for all these years and I shall keep on enjoying it.”