Ashley Cole turned his back on appeals for “respect” from a referee on Wednesday night, but the Chelsea defender and his England teammates will get the same request from a voice that they are more likely to listen to when the national squad comes together to prepare for the friendly match against France next week.

Fabio Capello, the England manager, is ready to live up to his reputation as a disciplinarian by leading a clampdown on the intimidation of match officials, which he considers a blight on football in his adopted country.

In the week that the Football Association launched its Respect Campaign, aimed at improving relations between players and referees, the initiative was overshadowed by ugly scenes at White Hart Lane, where Chelsea players including Cole, John Terry and Frank Lampard confronted Mike Riley, the referee, during their 4-4 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Capello is said to have been unhappy at what he witnessed in that and other games since arriving in England in January and has informed the FA that he will address his players on the subject next week Cole felt compelled to apologise yesterday for his conduct against Tottenham, when he was guilty of an ugly tackle on Alan Hutton and of turning his back on Riley before being shown a yellow card, but he was named in a provisional 30-man England squad along with David Beckham, who will win his 100th cap if, as expected, he figures against France.

Beckham, 32, was left out of Capello’s first squad, for the friendly against Switzerland last month, because of a lack of fitness. But despite not playing in a competitive game since the European Championship qualifying defeat by Croatia in November, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfield player has seemingly done enough in his club’s preseason matches to persuade the England manager that he merits a place in the squad.

“I always said that when David Beckham was fit he could be in the squad,” Capello said. “I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini [the England general manager, who watched him on Saturday in Galaxy’s preseason friendly against FC Dallas], and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team.”

Aaron Lennon, the Tottenham winger and one of Beckham’s heirs apparent, evidently still has much to do to convince Capello, having again been left out after an indifferent spell at club level. Michael Carrick, the Manchester United midfield player, was another notable absentee, along with Ledley King, the Tottenham captain, who will not be considered until he proves his persistent fitness problems are in the past.

The main beneficiaries are David Wheater, the 21-year-old Middlesbrough defender, who gets his first senior call-up, and Theo Walcott, 19, the Arsenal forward, who is in the squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup finals.

Michael Owen, who has endured a difficult season at club level with Newcastle United, was also included and is expected to make the cut tomorrow – Capello will reduce the squad to 23 – despite the manager’s concerns about how the forward will fit into his tactical game plan. Capello is known to be eager to look at players such as Gabriel Agbonlahor, the young Aston Villa forward.

Another issue that will take months to be resolved is the identity of the captain. Terry, who held the position, was told upon Capello’s appointment that it was up for grabs, but, having seemingly decided against Steven Gerrard, the manager will consider the claims of the Chelsea defender and of Rio Ferdinand in the matches against France, the United States on May 28 and Trinidad & Tobago on June 1.