FA plans fresh referee approach

The FA's director of football development said high-profile examples of a lack of respect for officials showed the need for a fresh approach.

"We accept something has to be done and incidents at the weekend highlighted it," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The professional game said they would like to buy into this as well."

Brooking launched a £200m grassroots football scheme last week, with the aim of recruiting more referees and improving the behaviour of players on the pitch towards match officials.

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"We have several pilot schemes in place taking part between now and the end of the season to see what could work," added Brooking.

"The bodies involved in the professional game are all going to sit down between now and end of the season and get something in place for the start of next season that the professional game can buy into."

The Premier League has seen several recent examples of dissent towards the referee, including Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano's red card against Manchester United on Sunday.

Mascherano was sent off for persistent dissent after several run-ins with referee Steve Bennett.

The FA is especially concerned by the high numbers of referees dropping out every season because of abuse.

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