Nigel Owens has demanded football must come down hard on Aleksander Mitrovic or face worsening levels of abuse for match officials at all levels of the game.
The Fulham striker is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association said its standard punishment for his sending off at Manchester United was "clearly insufficient".
Mitrovic has been charged with violent and improper conduct after a straight red card for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
Manager Marco Silva has also been charged with abusive behaviour towards match officials.
"They have to come down hard," said Owens.
"Rugby has lots of problems, just look at the red card at the weekend, but when situations like this arise we've always come down hard,
"Football has all the tools to stamp down on abuse to officials and at the moment it feels like they've chosen not to,
"Referee's need to be given the tools to deal with players on the pitch, if not, nothing will change."
"I bet if player got marched back 10 yards and a free kick is changed to a penalty players would quickly change their behaviour."
NIGEL OWENS: MY TOP 5 CAPTAINS
#5. Chris Robshaw (England)
Owens said: Some people will be surprised at this one to start off. His misfortune was perhaps to be leading England during a difficult time, but he always gave everything for the cause, encouraging others to follow suit, and he was a nice guy off the pitch."
#4. Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
Owens said: "He was not only a great rugby player but also a great leader and a great man. Whenever I came across him on the field, he impressed me."
#3. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Owens said: "He’s right up on any list of rugby’s greatest players.
"Maybe he will be at the top for many people.
"New Zealand won something like nine out of every 10 games in which he led them, but the mark of Richie McCaw was how he conducted himself when the All Blacks lost."
#2. Paul O'Connell & Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
Owens said: "I’m classing this as a joint-ticket as whenever I seemed to ref Ireland in their day O’Driscoll was captain and O’Connell was vice-skipper.
"O’Driscoll actually used to tell me if there were issues with the forwards then I should chat to O’Connell.
I found them excellent to deal with."
#1. Thierry Dusautoir (France)
Owens said: "My choice as the best skipper I encountered may raise a few eyebrows, but what a captain Dusautoir was. He unfailingly put his body on the line throughout his career — recall the 38 tackles he made when France knocked the All Blacks out of the 2007 World Cup — led by example and understood the game very well."
