EPL to crack down on abusive language toward officials

LONDON (AP) — Finger-jabbing players aggressively challenging referees. Rival teams in mass brawls. Touchline confrontations between managers. They all feature

LONDON (AP) — Finger-jabbing players aggressively challenging referees. Rival teams in mass brawls. Touchline confrontations between managers.

They all feature in a show-reel of shame produced by English soccer authorities.

And the video is being shown to players at the Premier League's 20 clubs ahead of the new season as part of the latest crackdown on bad behavior that damages the image of the league.

"We're looking to make a step change in the way our participants behave and how they are seen around the world," Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore said after showing the compilation of incidents of indiscipline at a former London courthouse on Wednesday.

• WILSON: Where does Leicester's title rank historically? 

It's a delicate balancing act for the league, which doesn't want to see the intense competitiveness disappear from its competition. Even Scudamore acknowledged it was a "guilty pleasure" watching the fiery and engrossing game between Chelsea and Tottenham last season that led to both teams being fined over a fracas.

"I felt an element of it was not right," Scudamore said. "But you couldn't go away from that game thinking it wasn't compelling"

The Premier League is already the world's wealthiest soccer competition, raising 8.3 billion pounds ($12 billion) from television rights for the next three seasons.

"People look to us to set the example across the world," Scudamore said.

"When you discuss what's holding it back from being absolutely universally popular, one of the things that comes back time and time again is, 'Wouldn't it be nice if the participants didn't quite display some of those behavioral tendencies that just stepped over the edge?'"

Leicester City's Premier League title celebrations

Leicester City players hold up the banner that says it all: The Foxes are Premier League champions.

Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge show their support for Leicester during the Blues' decisive 2-2 draw vs. Tottenham that clinched Leicester's title.

Leicester fans gather en masse around King Power Stadium to celebrate their Premier League title

This Leicester fan's scarf says it all: Champions

Fans celebrate as Chelsea's draw with Tottenham secures Leicester's Premier League title.

Fans celebrate Leicester's title outside of King Power Stadium the night the trophy was clinched.

More Leicester fans express their joy after winning the title.

Leicester fans stand outside of King Power Stadium with a trophy of their own–a placeholder until captain Wes Morgan is presented with the actual trophy.

A statue of King Richard III, whose tale and reburial is part of the Leicester title lore, is graced with a Leicester City championship flag.

The day after Leicester won the title, fans continued to celebrate by King Power Stadium.

Jamie Vardy is escorted through a crowd of fans as he joins a team lunch in Leicester the day after becoming a Premier League champion.

Which one is Jamie Vardy? The Leicester forward and his lookalike Lee Chapman celebrate on the team bus.

Leicester fans gather to catch a glimpse of Jamie Vardy and the rest of their title-winning heroes.

Riyad Mahrez makes his way to a car leaving a team lunch in Leicester, as a mob of fans and media try to catch a glimpse.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri makes his way through the masses.

Even the dogs are behind the Foxes amid Leicester's title run.

Leicester City fans Sarah and James Robinson have named their daughter Olivia-June Claudia Robinson–with the middle name in honor of Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri.

Claudio Ranieri toasts over Champagne at his first press conference after Leicester clinched the Premier League title.

Leicester's Christian Fuchs poses with the UFC title belt as part of Leicester's title celebrations.

The Premier League trophy arrives at King Power Stadium, where it now belongs.

Famed tenor Andrea Bocelli appears on stage with Claudio Ranieri to sing ahead of Leicester's match vs. Everton as part of the title celebrations.

Everton provides a guard of honor for Leicester City ahead of their match.

Jamie Vardy wastes no time in marking his return to Leicester's lineup after a two-game ban, scoring five minutes in to keep the celebration going on the field.

Andy King, the last holdover from Leicester's third-tier, League One club in 2008, celebrates his goal vs. Everton in the pouring rain.

Leicester captain Wes Morgan lifts the Premier League trophy at a capacity King Power Stadium.

Leicester City lifts the trophy: The 2015-16 Premier League champions.

A team photo for the ages: Leicester City with its Premier League championship trophy.

Leicester City enjoys a parade through a packed downtown, gathering with fans for one massive celebration for its title season.

Leicester fans pack the streets to catch a glimpse of their title-winning heroes at the victory parade.

Flanked by his star players, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri shows off the Premier League trophy.

Thousands upon thousands pack Victoria Park in Leicester to celebrate Leicester City's Premier League title.

Rather than introducing new laws, competition organizers instead want existing regulations enforced with a renewed vigor in five areas:

- dissent toward referees and their assistants by players (yellow card)

- offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures toward match officials (red card)

- physical contact with match officials (yellow card if it's not aggressive; red card for a confrontation)

- surrounding officials (yellow card and team sanctions)

- misconduct in the technical area by players and managers.

The initiative has been produced by the Premier League in conjunction with the English Football League, which runs the three leagues below the top flight, and the Football Association governing body.

The conduct of referees also comes under the microscope, with officials now under orders to refrain from physical conduct with players or risk their impartiality being questioned by seemingly to be overly friendly.

"Referees are just as guilty of putting their arms about players and invading their personal space — we are asking referees not to do that," said Mike Riley, who runs refereeing in England. "What we are talking about is actions that are intrusive."