BLACKBURN Rovers supporters from as far afield as America and Thailand took part in the CarlingNet Survey - and voted 100 per cent for referees to be made professional.

The survey, the most comprehensive piece of fan research conducted on the internet, involved almost 9,000 football supporters, 4,156 from the UK and 4,621 overseas.

A total of 174 Rovers supporters completed the survey representing 2.3 per cent of the total number of responses.

Apart from being unanimous on professional referees, two-thirds of them would also like to see the introduction of action replays to decide controversial incidents.

And just over a third would prefer to get married at Ewood rather than at a church or register office.

More Liverpool fans (25.5 per cent) took part in the survey than any other club's supporters and the question of professional referees provoked the most overwhelming response with 92.3 per cent voting for the change.

Other points included:

Over 60 per cent feel action replays should be used.

More than one in three would prefer their wedding to be held at a football ground.

Over 40 per cent said football was the most important thing in their life.

Barnsley, Southampton and Coventry were the popular tips to be relegated in May.

Two-out-of-three would like to see 'all-singing' sections created.

Old Trafford was named as the ground with the best atmosphere, pies and...PA announcer!

More than 90 per cent believe it is "important", or "very important", their club finishes higher in the table than its local rival.

The BBC's John Motson was voted by British fans as their favourite commentator, polling 38.65 per cent of the votes.

Sky TV's Martin Tyler was the most popular commentator with Premiership fans who live abroad and Andy Gray emerged as the fans' number one summariser.

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