Premier League referee Chris Foy believes there has been a significant improvement in the way players speak to referees. Speaking exclusively to evertonTV Foy said working together is paramount in reducing unacceptable behaviour in football.

"People of the top flight have all got a duty - managers, players, coaches and referees - to protect the image of the game, and that goes down to grassroots level too," said St Helens-born Foy. "I think if we all knuckle down and get stuck in it's going to make it a much, much better game."

Foy has noted a decline in unsavoury incidents in the game since the introduction of the FA's Respect programme at the start of the season.

"I've noticed a heck of a difference", he said. "The nice thing for me is we now use the captains, so we say to them: 'work with me and lets work together, let's reduce cautions', and cautions are down, it can only be good."