Lampard wants footballers to follow England rugby stars in respecting referees

Frank Lampard wants to see footballers follow the lead of their counterparts in rugby by showing greater respect for officials.

The Chelsea manager has worked a screening of England's World Cup final with South Africa into his schedule ahead of his side's clash at Watford on Saturday evening.

Having been struck during the tournament by the vastly different approach of rugby players towards referees, Lampard said: 'I think maybe yes (footballers could learn from rugby players).

'I think we should maybe have a sit-down with them because I was also thinking how well restrained - not restrained, there is no reason you should be restrained - but how well Owen Farrell and every player, the New Zealand players as well, reacted to the referee in the semi-final.

'And I think it is certainly something we could take on board - to take a deep breath sometimes more than we do. I think the respect in rugby seems to go both ways (between referees and players) - I think we could probably all learn.'