rabidbee To be honest, the respect campaign shouldn't just be about officials but about everybody. After all, it's only a game - why get in the face of an opposing player, let alone try to injure one? Respect your fellow man, because you're only kicking a piece of plastic around a rectangle of grass, ffs.
Yup.
Although I agree it goes two ways. The refs need to respect the players and not just dismiss them. More dialogue between them is important. Equally the refs need to encourage players to respect each other and stop all the stupid diving, shirt tugging and feigning injury that goes on.
Most important is the players showing respect to the officials. Accept that incorrect decisions will made, not appeal for the sake of it, own up when they've been caught out rather than feigning innocence.
When a piss poor decision is made it should be acknowldged just as an own goal or a piss poor back pass would. You don't get a defender saying he did the right thing when he set up the opposition striker do you!?