FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Top English referee Gerald Ashby on Wednesday warned England captain Alan Shearer that he may have to cut out tackles on defenders to avoid the risk of being sent off in the World Cup finals.

Shearer was cautioned for a heavy challenge on Tony Adams during Newcastle’s FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday. And Ashby echoed the sentiments of World Cup referee Paul Durkin, who took charge of the Cup final, by warning that a similar offence in France under new FIFA directives would lead to his dismissal. Ashby feels that Shearer and the rest of the England squad will need to adapt their physical style before the finals begin and come to terms with the new guidelines which will eliminate the tackle from behind and reckless challenges.

Ashby, who has just hung up his whistle after 27 years, warned: “If Alan Shearer makes the same challenge in the World Cup as he did in the FA Cup final then there is every chance that he will be sent off.”  It could mean that Alan and other strikers may decide it is not worth putting in a tackle because of the risk they run if they get the timing wrong and that they instead opt just to jockey and hustle opponents. “If FIFA say the challenge from behind is going to mean a red card then forward players, who are not used to tackling, will have to take it on board and not jump in with the challenges.”  Ashby fears that if the lessons are not learned then England’s World Cup campaign could be undermined by a rash of red cards. “It is a fact that there is more emphasis being put by FIFA on non-physical play and the English game will have to change its attitude accordingly,”   he said.

“We have the most physical game in Europe and the players need to be re-educated or there are going to be a mass of red cards dished out. It’s a case of get it right or face the consequences.”