Martin Ward, the deputy general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, addressed members at their annual conference in Brighton yesterday about links between discipline in schools and on the football field.
Ward castigated footballers for their violence, foul language, cheating and defiance of authority, and went on to say that TV companies should refuse to broadcast such behaviour.
"Where is the moral authority of television companies in showing this to the nation, not once but week after week, complete with action replays? Such incidents should not be shown until after the 9pm watershed, and preferably not at all," he said.
The teachers' leader added that when a player tells a referee to "fuck off" -- in full view of millions of people on television -- he should be sent off.
"Not for a repeated offence, but first time, every time. However famous he may be. He would soon learn how to behave in civilised society and an example would be set to young people," Ward told teachers.
The speech drew a stinging response from Peter Salmon, the BBC's director of sport, who called the watershed idea "ridiculous".
Salmon said: "It would affect the future of live broadcasting as we know it. With all major live events, there are elements that are slightly out of broadcasters' control."
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