Ex-Football Association chief executive Mark Palios has called for referees' microphones to be broadcast to fans in the wake of the Mark Clattenburg row. At major rugby union matches, fans have the option to buy "Ref Link" earpieces in order to hear the conversations between players and officials, which are also audible to TV viewers.
Police and the FA are investigating Chelsea's allegation that Clattenburg used inappropriate language, including racial words, towards two players.
"I see no reason for not recording the conversations," Palios told BBC 5 live.
"If we had the recordings we would have the answer to [whether Chelsea's claims are true]."
"You could say people would become party to the language that goes on on the field, but it then creates a burning platform," said former Tranmere and Crewe midfielder Palios.
"The FA should follow this through and use the moment to enliven their Respect campaign and make it real.
"At the moment, Respect is an abstract term that is signified by a fading notice on the back of a park dressing-room door.
"There are very few things where there is a silver bullet but showing guys a yellow card every time there is dissent for a referee are silver bullets you could apply."
