Campaign to respect referees gets swift kick

Ashley Cole turned his back on a referee who was about to show him a yellow card. Javier Mascherano had to be pulled away from an official who had just given him a red one.

At a time when the leaders of English soccer are campaigning for players at all levels to respect to those struggling to keep order, the big names aren't listening. Neither, it seems, are the coaches.

Cole's petulant behavior for Chelsea against Tottenham last week -- ,when he was considered lucky to avoid a red card -- should have been punished by England manager Fabio Capello. The Italian, who is trying to instill better discipline, should have sent a message to the Chelsea left back and others inclined to similar misbehavior by dropping him.

Cole stood defiantly with his back to referee Mike Riley, who repeatedly asked him to turn around. He dragged the name of Premier League soccer into the mud at a time when Football Association chairman Lord David Triesman is trying to persuade youngsters to show more respect to officials.

If Cole behaves like that and Mascherano chases after referee Steve Bennett over his red card, what's the point of Triesman preaching good behavior to young players who copy the stars?