LOCAL football clubs have been asked to provide "at least" one member to go on a referee training course in a bid to reduce the amount of indiscipline at grass-roots level.

Hampshire FA chief executive Lawrence Jones is calling on all clubs from junior sides through to Wessex League outfits to back his idea.

"It's all about education and increasing people's knowledge," he said.

The Daily Echo yesterday revealed how indiscipline across Hampshire rose by around seven per cent in 2002/03 after the county FA had recorded a slight decrease 12 months earlier.

Jones insisted he was "concerned" by the figures but believed the clubs must share some responsibility.

"Of course there is going to be aggression in football and players getting booked for late tackles. We know football is a contact sport and we don't want to change it," he said.

"But it's the unacceptable side of indiscipline that we want to cut out, the abuse of referees.

"Our refereeing numbers are down and you have to ask why - part of the reason is that they go out every weekend and get abused by the minority.

"The responsibility rests with the clubs to educate their players, and sending at least one member on a referees course would help.

"I'm sure not every player and official knows the rules of the game.

"The laws of the game have changed so much in the last five or ten years and, as a result, the game has changed as well. We have created a different game in a way - you see a lot less fouls for tackles with the feet these days, and a lot more fouls using the upper part of the body."

With regard to reducing indiscipline at junior football levels, the FA have in the last two years introduced a charter standard for clubs to aspire to.

The criteria include the ability to pass on the knowledge that referees are not there to be abused.

"We have 26 charter standard clubs and a host more working towards it," said Jones.

"It's all about trying to improve the quality - and part of the standard involves working with match officials and knowing how to treat them."