Managers' touchline conduct subject to new guidelines

Football’s governing bodies in England have agreed to a code of conduct for managers and anyone else in the technical area during matches.

The code, jointly agreed by the FA, Premier League, Football League,  LMA and PFA, is designed as guidance for players, coaches and staff ahead of the new season.

It follows a series of high profile incidents over the past few seasons where the conduct of managers on the touchline have made the headlines.

Alan Pardew received a seven game ban after he head-butted David Meyler in a game between Newcastle and Hull City in March 2014 and the then Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was sent to the stands - and later charged by the FA - after a touchline row with Steve Bruce a year later.

Other clashes have gone unpunished - including Arsene Wenger's shove on Jose Mourinho during a league game between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last season.

The simmering feud between Wenger and Mourinho was on the back pages again last weekend when the pair failed to shake hands following the Community Shield game at Wembley – although Mourinho told Sky Sports News HQ Wenger was within his rights not to shake his hand.

The code of conduct contains nothing new in terms of what is punishable but it does set out a two-step process for dealing with transgressors.

Individuals can be warned if their conduct is minor – such as sarcastic applause towards an official, verbally abusing opponents or persistently leaving the technical area.

Step two involves the removal of people from the technical area for a major infraction – usually an act of aggression such as kicking balls or water bottles onto the pitch.

There is one FA new rule about surrounding the referee - if two or more players surround and question the referee in an aggressive manner it can now bring an FA charge and a potential ban or fine.

This is a change from last season when the limit was set at three players – although it is important to stress that players can still approach an official, just not in an exaggerated manner.