Howard Webb sends strong referee warning after Turkey attack and FA's Mikel Arteta call

Referees’ chief Howard Webb has warned managers and players to set an “example” to stop a repeat of the shameful scenes in Turkey happening in English football.

Webb branded the attack on Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler “outrageous” after the official was hit by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca. But the sorry truth is that it has happened at grassroots level and a manager’s rant or a player abusing a referee is only one step away from escalating into full scale violence on the football pitch.

The Premier League, EFL and Football Association this week issued a joint statement to highlight the need for respect and to also highlight a shocking 88 per cent rise in bookings for dissent after a major crackdown by referees.

But that has not stopped high-profile bosses and players confronting referees this season as Manchester City have been charged with failing to control their players after Simon Hooper was surrounded. City star Erling Haaland’s furious reaction remains one of the most memorable pictures of the season so far.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta escaped punishment despite an outspoken attack on referee Stuart Attwell while up and down the country managers regularly challenge officials and their decisions. Former Premier League official Webb, now in charge of the referees’ body PGMOL, has urged managers and players to be more respectful and accept key decisions - or run the risk of the game “sliding” out of control.

Webb said: “In terms of what we saw in Turkey, it was pretty outrageous really and I hope we never see that again at any level. Unfortunately we know it does happen at grassroots level, we do everything we can to set the right example at the highest level of the game. There needs to be an acceptance of