That's the idiocy we need to get out of the game...'passion'....what an absolute load of crap.
Every sport is passionate. No sport encourages abuse.
And it's not even about 'putting up with it'. So many things about this sport actively encourage abuse.
Including idiotic comments like that - I mean, if screaming F*** OFF at the AR is showing passion, then that implies the screaming abuse is a good thing - after all, passion is a positive quality on the field!!
Last week I spoke about wanting refs like Walton to get more involved in their analysis on tv. Well talk about getting what you wish for! The FA have the respect campaign and try all that good work to try to reduce dissent and then we have a player clearly telling the AR to "**** off" three times and scream in his face. Walton insinuates that referees allow initial abuse because of "passion" and may award a yellow for secondary dissent! Firstly, that is completely contrary to the LOTG and secondly, he doesn't even consider the possibility of a red card for OFFINABUS.
Staggering comments and admissions. Throw your respect campaign in the bin. Accept all initial abuse as passion, maybe award a yellow card for secondary abuse. I understand that Walton is talking in the context of a PL match but OFFINABUS should be dealt with strictly at any level if you want to stamp about abuse towards referees. Its actions not words that indicate the seriousness in which a governing body wants to deal with any issue and this to me is confirmation, if ever it was needed, that referee abuse is accepted and actively tolerated at the top.
I hope that someone comes out this week and clesrly explains to the public that such abuse from Barnes should be a red card but I won't hold my breath. Walton has inadvertently set back any campaign to reduce dissent towards officials imo.