Players who deliberately cough on opponents or referees can be penalised with a red or yellow card in accordance with new guidelines from the English Football Association (FA) in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The instruction to referees in charge of matches is that they must act immediately against such actions and this applies to all levels of the game.

The FA’s document states that action will be taken “when the referee is sure that someone is deliberately, and closely, coughing in the face of an opponent or match official”.

It adds that the offence will fall into the same category as using abusive, crude and foul language or gestures.

“If the incident is not serious enough to send someone off, a warning will be issued for unsportsmanlike conduct.”

The document also adds that referees should be careful not to punish a normal cough and that players should be reminded not to spit on the field, even though it is not a foul.