Chris Sutton: Referees must 'take action' to Haaland's outburst in Hooper's face

Referees must 'draw a line in the sand' with abuse after Erling Haaland's outburst in the face of Simon Hooper, argues Chris Sutton.

Sutton argued that only captains should be allowed to protest against incidents with referees, an idea that has not been enforced despite being long mooted.

Seven players - led by Haaland - surrounded Hooper when he pulled play back for a free-kick while Jack Grealish ran through towards goal in the dying moments of their 3-3 draw with Tottenham.

Hooper had given an advantage which led to Grealish breaking beyond the defence but the referee then pulled it back, leading to their rage.

While Sutton wants firm action immediately, Mail Sport's football editor argued that changing attitudes would be a gradual process.

'It doesn't happen in rugby. Why doesn't it happen in rugby? Because eventually there has to be a line drawn in the sand. Referees have to take action and officials have to take action,' Sutton told Mail Sport's podcast It's All Kicking Off.

'And do you know what, in the early days, people won't like it, there will be an outrage about it, but then eventually players will realise where the line is and they will have to stay away from the referee.'

He added: 'This has to be the time where if you want to move forward, there has to be that element of respect, that element of control where it's only the captain who approaches the referee, and once players know that and know where the line is, I think they will consider it.'

Sutton didn't feel that much progress had been made compared to when he was a player.

He said: 'I'd like to think that we're moving on, but it doesn't look like that has been the case with respect to referees. Clearly he got lost in the moment, I totally accept that, he