THE VOTE Should footballers and managers be allowed to swear at the referee?

Wigan boss Paul Jewell has announced he will contest a foul and abusive language charge by alleging that referee Phil Dowd is partial to a bit of cursing himself. Jewell will face the FA armed with statements from six of his players claiming that Dowd told them to "F**k off" during the match against Arsenal last Sunday.

Is the solution to these petty disputes to let both parties say what they like on the pitch? I recall Gazza being sent off for swearing at the referee during his time at Middlesbrough and saying he could not see anything wrong with a bit of industrial language between two men at work. Or is maintaining a certain level of respect for match officials the only way to stop incidents spiralling out of control? [Rob Parker]