by Patrick Gearey

Football referees are vilified for all sorts of reasons - but now they're getting stick for their colourful dress sense from Gillingham manager Mark Stimson.

Stimson wants officials to stop wearing "pinky shirts" because he thinks they make them a laughing stock.

Stimson spoke to match officials after the 1-1 draw with Norwich on Saturday - refereed by Paul Taylor - and offered a bit of fashion advice about their uniform.

He said: "It's a crazy decision to put a referee in a pinky shirt. They get enough abuse as it is - but as soon as they walk on the pitch with that pink shirt people laugh at them."

Audio: Hear Mark Stimson criticise referees' uniform

Officially, referees can now be found sporting fluorescent shades of red, yellow, blue and green, as well as the traditional black uniform.

The Gills boss would be prepared to back a campaign for officials to go 'back to black' as a way of helping the Respect agenda, which the FA hopes will encourage better behaviour towards the men in the middle from fans, managers and players.

Stimson added: "[Referees] set themselves up. If they wanted managers to say anything about it I would because I do not think it is a good thing."