Football referees around the world, just dream for a moment and imagine if the head of your national referees' association said something like this.
"There will be a "zero tolerance" policy for players guilty of on-field dissent. "We want them to know we won't tolerate it. People throwing their arms up at decisions or rushing in, like they do in other sports ... we don't want that."
These are the words of Paddy O'Brien, the chief rugby referees boss, before the World Cup. He is rugby's equivalent of Sepp Blatter, who usually prefers to slag off referees in public while simpering at them in private.
All players and coaches preparing for the World Cup have been warned to button their lips and show respect for referees throughout the tournament. A formal letter has been sent by the International Rugby Board chairman, Dr Syd Millar, to every competing team reminding them of their responsibilities and expressing disquiet at recent "unacceptable" outbursts aimed at match officials.
Footballing authorities have known for years that rugby's discipline laws would work perfectly in football, yet they have chosen to ignore it to increase the gladatorial entertainment, not caring if the sport is gradually destroyed in the process. Tests with walking defenders back 10 yards in case of dissent were generally successful, but have been buried by Fifa.
Is there really any long-term hope for the game?
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