Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has warned the game could be "ruined" if the organisation fails to stamp out the abuse of referees.Triesman is determined the FA's 'Respect' campaign will succeed but is under no illusions he faces a long and arduous battle over the issue.

The scheme - which promotes a new code of conduct including allowing only team captains to approach the referee - was recently piloted a grassroots level.

Triesman said: "One thing I never believed was that getting people interested in that first phase would simply change everything, because I think the culture of poor behaviour around football goes pretty deep.

"We're getting to one of those points where, if we can't turn back this time, the tide could only ruin the sport.

"So, if I said an announcement in a couple of weeks would change that, it would be pretty frivolous. We're going to have to be very emphatic over a long period in order to make a difference."

Triesman revealed the early findings from the pilot scheme suggested there had been a noticeable improvement in behaviour from players, managers and spectators.

He added: "I'm not 100% certain that it would be possible instantly to get to a point where only the captains talk to the referee, for example. There are highly-charged emotions.

"But I think we can certainly get to the point where the referees are able to say to the players, 'these are the ground rules', and they will be backed by the managers - explicitly backed by the managers - and I think potentially we can get a bit further than that."

If successful at grassroots level, the scheme could be trialled in the professional game.

Triesman is keen for top players and managers to embrace it, saying: "I'm very eager that the leading managers and the leading players take their full part - the important part of that is precisely because they are the leading managers and the leading players.

"They're leading because they're very good at what they do; they're remarkable figures in football. Their influence is consequently huge compared to those of no consequence. So I do want them to take a role.

"I know managers are going to feel very passionate when they are competing for the highest honours at the end of the season, but we do need them to make sure we make the breakthrough I'm looking for."

Triesman hopes the scheme will help avoid a repeat of some unsavoury incidents of dissent this season.

These include Chelsea defender Ashley Cole ignoring referee Mike Riley's request to face him when being cautioned at Tottenham, and Liverpool's Javier Mascherano refusing to leave the field after being sent off by Steve Bennett at Manchester United.

Triesman is ready to back his officials to the hilt.

"The referees are doing a good job," he said.

"They need to be able to apply the laws and, of course, to do it consistently, they've got to know that the FA will back them, that there's no question of the FA walking away from them when they apply the laws.

"That's what I've got to do, to get confidence into the system, and I will."

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