Women’s Super League: ‘Managers must ‘try harder’ to respect referees’
Women’s Super League managers must “try a little bit harder” to respect referees, says Leicester City boss Willie Kirk.
Manchester City’s Gareth Taylor accused Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall of ‘bullying’ the fourth official after their 2-1 defeat on Sunday.
Eidevall later called his claims ‘borderline slander’.
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Kirk believes that managers must be conscious of their emotions and the way they treat officials.
“I think we can all be lively at times at the side of the pitch and that’s emotions,” he said. “I’ve been conscious of my self sometimes, some things I probably feel I’ve been out of control at times a little bit.
“It’s potentially pressure, the emotions of the state of the game at time. I think we’ve all got to try a little bit harder.
“You choose to use anger at any given moment to try and gain control over someone. That doesn’t matter whether it’s a fourth official, an opponent, your child. If you raise your voice or get angry, that is a choice.”
The head of referees’ body PGMOL Howard Webb said in August he was “determined” that officials would not “turn a blind eye” to bad behaviour from players and coaches this season.
Tottenham manager Robert Vilahamn, who joined the WSL at the start of the season, echoed Kirk’s sentiments.
“I think you should try to treat all people wherever with respect and make sure you trust the role they have,” the Swede said.
“I know by being a coach you have feelings and some calls are not for you and some calls are against you but you need to respect people, you need to respect the linesmen, the referee, the fourth official.
“Where the limit is is not for me to say. I’m always trying to be calm and be respectful to them. I know feelings can pop up, I got a red card a few years back so I’m trying to learn to never raise my voice to an