Sports Minister calls for action

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Sports Minister Richard Caborn has urged chairmen to lead a clampdown on players' misbehaviour after the fight between Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer.

"In any other walk of life fighting at work would be a sackable offence," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.

"We have a responsibility but it has to start at board level. The chairmen must get together and straighten it out.

"They must tell managers about their corporate and social responsibilities to the game and community as a whole."

Dyer and Bowyer were sent off for brawling towards the end of Newcastle's 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday and Caborn says an improvement in conduct must start at board level.

"It's not just about the managers. For the last two seasons I've written to every chairman of a professional club asking them to make sure they bring some discipline," added Caborn.

"I think there ought to be a general direction from the boards, telling managers that this type of behaviour has to be taken out of the game.

"Respect has to be given, not just to the player's peer group but to the officials as well."

Meanwhile, Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has said that Bowyer and Dyer could be sacked.

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said both players have a future at the club but Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "The sack is always open to an employer - if employee behaviour has gone on that is gross misconduct.

"Nobody could say it is not gross misconduct to fight on the pitch with team-mates and get yourself sent off."