BLUES skipper Jason De Vos wants his team-mates to keep their mouths shut and for him to do all the talking to referees.De Vos agrees with the FA that want just one man to approach the officials when a decision is disputed.

By Derek Davis

BLUES skipper Jason De Vos wants his team-mates to keep their mouths shut and for him to do all the talking to referees.

De Vos agrees with the FA that want just one man to approach the officials when a decision is disputed.

The Town centre-half and leader said: There have been suggestions that only the captain speaks to the referee and I fully endorse that.

“I encourage that at Ipswich. I tell all our guys don't speak to the referee it will only aggravate the situation.

“I have never seen a referee change a decision when players argue with him.

“Referees are human and players at all clubs are guilty of behaving pretty appallingly to referees and human beings remember that sort of behaviour.

“If you are nasty to a referee and you later mis-time a tackle then he is not going to give you the benefit of the doubt, he will remember what you said to him earlier.”

While De Vos agrees with the FA initiative he believes rather than it starting at grass root level as put forward, superstars at clubs at the top should lead the way by example.

Speaking before the Ipswich Town road-show at Bury St Edmunds last night De Vos said: “There is no reason why it can't start at the top. The high profile of the game with it being on television morning, noon and night, means people see their actions all the time.

“We still remember the scenes with the Manchester United players swarming around the referee and now Chelsea are guilty of it.

“John Terry is a bad example to kids after grabbing the red card from the referee and that is not right. Players should lead the way.

“Football can take a page from the rugby book where there is a great deal more respect for referees and allow them to get on with the job.”

Town have suffered injustices in their past two games with a goal disallowed at Burnley and a penalty wrongly given against Preston and firmly believes it is time for technology to be used in football.

He said: “We have had bad decisions two games on the bounce and that is so frustrating for you. We should be talking about what a great away victory that was for us.

“Then on Saturday it was stonewall not a penalty and the lad even admitted it afterwards.

“There is no reason why we can't bring in video technology. People say about it slowing the game down but that's rubbish because when there is a dispute the game is held up anyway.

“It also it adds to the tension. When the referee in rugby signals he is going to the video referee there is the drama of is it or isn't it and in the end it ends the argument.

“It would improve the standard of officiating by cutting down on the element of human error.”