Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has called on referees to get a grip or risk losing their authority.
Following on from comments made by Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who on Saturday claimed there "must be better" referees in Germany, Beckenbauer today insisted the officials need to take control.
"If I were a referee and were attacked, then I would send the person involved off immediately," he said.
"We have got to teach people to show more respect - with red cards."
Beckenbauer is not happy with the way referees are constantly harassed by players and coaches, like in Hamburg on Saturday when Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp raced to confront Jochen Drees at full-time.
Dortmund defender Robert Kovac was shown a red card for taking his complaints too far following the final whistle, and Beckenbauer fears for the reputation of the Bundesliga.
"The image is a catastrophe," he added.
"We need other, better manners towards referees. It is not right that everybody has to get involved over a small incident.
"Players, coaches, staff - with such behaviour, they are turning the fans against the referees too."
Next Monday, a 'round table' meeting has been called to discuss the recent events, but Beckenbauer is pessimistic about the outcome.
He said: "It is not the first round table. In the past, it has not really done much, as you can see."
Kovac has been suspended for three games for his unsporting conduct while Klopp has been asked to explain his actions to the German Football Association (DFB).
Werder Bremen's Claudio Pizarro has been asked to do likewise after insulting the referee at the end of his side's 0-0 draw at Bochum on Saturday, while Lehmann may not get off lightly with his remarks over the performance of Germany's latest FIFA referee, Babak Rafati.
"If I were a referee and were attacked, then I would send the person involved off immediately," he said.
"We have got to teach people to show more respect - with red cards."
Beckenbauer is not happy with the way referees are constantly harassed by players and coaches, like in Hamburg on Saturday when Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp raced to confront Jochen Drees at full-time.
Dortmund defender Robert Kovac was shown a red card for taking his complaints too far following the final whistle, and Beckenbauer fears for the reputation of the Bundesliga.
"The image is a catastrophe," he added.
"We need other, better manners towards referees. It is not right that everybody has to get involved over a small incident.
"Players, coaches, staff - with such behaviour, they are turning the fans against the referees too."
Next Monday, a 'round table' meeting has been called to discuss the recent events, but Beckenbauer is pessimistic about the outcome.
He said: "It is not the first round table. In the past, it has not really done much, as you can see."
Kovac has been suspended for three games for his unsporting conduct while Klopp has been asked to explain his actions to the German Football Association (DFB).
Werder Bremen's Claudio Pizarro has been asked to do likewise after insulting the referee at the end of his side's 0-0 draw at Bochum on Saturday, while Lehmann may not get off lightly with his remarks over the performance of Germany's latest FIFA referee, Babak Rafati.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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