20 Jun 2008TV monitors banned in dugouts

Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

TV monitors have been banned from Premier League dugouts meaning managers will no longer have access to replays during matches.

The decision is as a result of a vote between top clubs and it could reduce the pressure on match officials, particularly the fourth official.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Premier League chief Richard Scudamore said that the move was part of the Respect agenda.

"We are trying to eradicate the idea that a club official or manager suddenly runs up to a monitor, looks at something and demonstrably shows the fact that he is not pleased with what he has seen," he explained.

Premier League referee Graham Poll welcomed the initiative and said that it showed that officials were finally having their say on the game.

"It all started with television companies showing the manager an error they found and that stimulates him to rant and rave and have a go at you - it provokes conflict that is not necessary," he said.

But Poll said that clubs may use ProZone technology - which can show replays - to see contentious incidents.

Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, famously asked a fourth official to look at TV replays after referee Howard Webb had disallowed a goal for offside in a match against Blackburn last year.

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