Do As I Say But Not As I Do

‘Respect is the collective responsibility of everyone involved in football to create a fair, safe and enjoyable environment in which the game can take place.’ – FA.com

Seems as though a handful of managers missed that bulletin!

The RESPECT campaign was launched in 2008 to protect referees from abusive players and seems to have had the desired effect - with the players. Managers, on the other hand, appear to be exempt from this initiative.

Over the last few weeks there have been instances of petulance where management and the ‘beautiful game’ are concerned. In reality only two incidents made the headlines, but in a sport where players are constantly being raked over the coals for unsportsmanlike behaviour, it was a surprise to see management openly succumbing to their emotions.

If I had an opportunity to interview Mark Hughes I’d be compelled to ask: when your players feel that they are being disrespected on the pitch by the opposition, are you ok with them acting out?

Perception is reality. So regardless of what Mancini did or may have done or was to perceived to have done to Hughes – Hughes is the one who appears to condone childish behaviour.

Hughes’ pelted teddy was nothing compared to the incident that ended the Celtic v Rangers match. Historically, a highly charged fixture, this particular match was a train wreck of sorts: athletes were on edge, cards were being handed out like M&Ms at Halloween and the fans were ready for action. The exchange between Lennon and McCoist did absolutely nothing to calm an already precarious situation. Could they not have handled their beef in the tunnel, at the pub or in a boxing ring?

No one is without fault where heated reactions are concerned. Read the New Testament and you’ll see that even Jesus threw a wobbler once. However, as a society we have created a hierarchy which demands that different levels of responsibility and accountability are attributed to certain individuals the higher up they rise.

Numerous athletes have received hefty fines for questionable behaviour and they are the sheep – not the shepherd. How can we expect sportsmen to 'rise above it', when their managers can't?

With this in mind – should the RESPECT campaign extend to managers? Or should we just leave managers to their own devices?