Terry calls for captains only to confer with referees

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John Terry has urged the Football Association to introduce a rule change so that only team captains can speak to officials over contentious decisions on the pitch. The England and Chelsea captain's remarks come just days after his team-mate Ashley Cole issued an apology for his dangerous tackle on Tottenham's Alan Hutton and for showing a lack of respect towards the referee Mike Riley as he was shown the yellow card during their 4-4 draw.

"There has to be a line drawn and confronting the referee has to be taken out of the game," Terry said. "We have to give it a go and if it doesn't work, then the FA and the officials have to say that. But we have to try."

Terry was criticised for running over to Riley when he saw the Tottenham staff react angrily to Cole's challenge on Wednesday. "I ran forward to tell Mike Riley not to listen or be intimidated by their bench trying to force him into a decision," Terry said. "I spoke to him and he told me: 'It was a high tackle and it was going to be a booking.' I agreed and walked away.

"There was no argument from me or anyone else close to Mike Riley and I thought he handled it fantastically well."