sport news Lets hear the refs! Football's lawmakers have been urged to broadcast on-field ... trends now

Football's lawmakers have been urged to broadcast referee conversations during games to stop incidents like Jurgen Klopp screaming at the fourth official.

Martin Cassidy, CEO of referee charity Ref Support UK, believes allowing fans to hear what is said on the field would 'change football overnight' and end abuse of officials.

Liverpool manager Klopp pulled his hamstring as he ran towards fourth official John Brooks to celebrate the late winner against Tottenham last week and was charged by the FA for accusing referee Paul Tierney of having something against his team.

Klopp claimed Tierney said something untoward when he was cautioned, but refereeing body, the PGMOL, listened to the audio from their officials' microphones and claimed that Tierney 'acted in a professional manner throughout'.

Cassidy, who believes Klopp acted like a Mercedes version of Neil Warnock, said broadcasting referee communications would have a positive impact at every level across the world.

He said: 'If you knew someone was policing you outside the field of play, it would change football overnight. Two things would happen: either the players would behave or the referees and match officials would be exposed for not addressing the foul and abusive language.

'It would have a major influence on the rest of the game globally because it is clear the actions of these players and managers are mimicked at grassroots level around the world.

It isn't just about referee abuse, but racial abuse, homophobic abuse, anti-Semitism, all forms of abuse can be prevented with the live communications that all match officials use above National League level. I'm yet to see a justifiable reason not to do that. I don't know anyone who is against it other than FIFA or IFAB.'

Football's lawmakers IFAB prohibit the live broadcast of referee communications and have no plans to change the rule but say they have no issue with recordings being made public after games. 

It comes after Mail Sport revealed Premier League referee chief Howard Webb is canvassing clubs over his wish to release audio of conversations between officials and VARs after matches in a bid to give fans a glimpse behind the curtain and reduce confusion over controversial decisions.

Webb was widely praised during his time in the MLS for his openness, running a weekly YouTube show that reviewed all the controversial decisions and included the conversations between referees VARs. Premier League referees have been practising for more than a year for their communications to be broadcast to spectators and television viewers, with the feeling among officials that it cannot come soon enough.