National League refs told they can send off any player who deliberately coughs in the face of opponent

The Football Association has issued guidance to referees about what they should do before, during and after a match to keep themselves and everyone else safe.

One of the rules states that coughing at someone, in an extreme case, where the referee is certain that someone deliberately, and from close range, coughed into the face of an opponent or match official should result in a red card but it must be obvious that it is a “clear act” against someone else.

Referees should take action under Law 12 - ‘using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.’

If the incident is not severe enough to merit a red card a yellow card should be issued for ‘unsporting behaviour,’ the FA said.

Officials should not look to punish ‘routine coughing’ just as they would not take action for someone spitting unless it was towards another person.

The guidance also states that the substitution procedure should take place with ‘one-metre plus distancing’ and injury management of players should be verbal with distancing.

It is the responsibility of players to observe social distancing during goal celebrations, not match officials, the FA added.

In other news, Chesterfield will play Belper Town away in a friendly on September 8 (7.30pm). As it stands the match will be played behind closed doors as fans are not allowed back in stadiums until October.

A Spireites XI will also play Clipstone away on August 25 (7pm).