FA hiding the fair-play table shows lack of respect for own campaign | Daniel Taylor

How can the governing body expect behaviour to improve if it will not publish the fair-play table and allow us to see which clubs are punished in it for their treatment of officials?

The news came via a press release from Burnley’s media department. “Burnley FC Tops FA Respect Table,” was the headline, announcing the award of a £20,000 prize for having the best record in the top division last season when it came to fair play and understanding, under the guidance of Sean Dyche, that influencing or deceiving the referee should not be thought of as just another skill or tactic.

Nobody should be surprised when Dyche’s ethos is that his players give everything, tackle hard and never shirk a challenge, but also that they do things the right way. Dyche does not tolerate diving. He does not like his players back-chatting with referees – a legacy, undoubtedly, of Brian Clough being his mentor as a young professional at Nottingham Forest – and his own conduct is a significant reason why Burnley have come out on top in a points system that takes into account more than just red and yellow cards.

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