Stu: Refs need players' respect March 25 2008
Stuart Pearce has told his England Under-21 squad that every player is responsible for addressing the problem of ill-discipline in football.
Pearce was at White Hart Lane last week when Ashley Cole sparked the issue of respect for officials, with players' conduct on and off the pitch now under intense scrutiny.
The youngsters in Pearce's squad have not been given specific rules to follow ahead of Tuesday night's friendly against Poland at Molineux but the coach feels referees deserve better treatment.
"Something probably has to be done to address that and give the referees a little bit more respect," Pearce said.
"When I was manager at Manchester City the message was always put across. After games I made it my point not to criticise referees.
"We all have to take that lead and try to make their job that little bit easier."
Regarding conduct off the field, Pearce highlighted Joe Mattock's emergence in his squad as an example of poor discipline having a direct effect on a player's international career.
Mattock only got his chance to impress when Ryan Bertrand was sent home for breaking a curfew with the Under-19s last October.
Bertrand, the Chelsea defender who is currently on loan at Norwich, was considered to be ahead of Mattock in the pecking order but paid the price for returning late to a training base along with Scott Sinclair and Andy Carroll.
Sinclair had also been suggested as a possible Under-21 candidate but has not been invited into the 45-year-old's squad yet.
Pearce said: "Not so much Sinclair. You might look at Bertrand, who was in that category. I had Joe Mattock step up who was behind him in the Under-19s.
"I speak with the Under-19s manager and he tells me who is available for selection and who isn't. Joe stepped up in that respect."
Pearce's attitude towards officials stems from his time playing under the late Brian Clough, who never stood for dissent towards referees from his players.
"He made it abundantly clear that you had let the side down," the former Manchester City manager said.
"He never wanted you to talk back to a referee - he wanted to do that himself."