A LOT of managers could take a leaf out of Sean Dyche’s book when it comes to his refusal to be critical of referees.

Dyche is aware just how the hard the job of a top flight official is and there is no doubt that, with the speed the game is played at, it is just about as hard a profession as it has ever been.

Nobody expects referees to get every decision right, and it must be said that they do get a massive majority of calls spot on.

It is only when they miss a contentious decision that we end up discussing them.

But perhaps they could also be given some extra help from the FA? Maybe it is time that the game’s rule book was re-written for the modern age.

There have been a couple of incidents in Burnley games recently that have had people baffled about what exactly the rules are, and whether they are right.

The handball issue is top of the list for the rule makers to look at. What is deliberate handball?

Michael Kightly might not have meant to handle inside the Chelsea penalty area at Stamford Bridge, but by having his arms outstretched he was gaining an advantage in making himself bigger to block the ball. The same can be said about the handball appeal for Burnley late on in the 2-2 draw with West Brom at Turf Moor.

On Saturday Sam Vokes was denied what most people seem to think was a clear penalty because he tried to stay on his feet.

Speaking about the incident the day after the game on Match of the Day 2 Extra, Steven Reid said had Jonathan Moss awarded the spot-kick it would have been contentious because Vokes hadn’t gone down.

There is no doubt that is true, but if we are in a position where players are being punished for not going to ground then we are only going to end up encouraging diving, something that nobody wants to see.

Just because Vokes didn’t collapse to the ground doesn’t mean he wasn’t fouled, and referees need to be told that and told to use common sense in such incidents.

Surely it not too much to ask that we have some clarity from the game’s governing body.