- Oct 6, 2008
- 5,654
- 15,372
Never forget a panorama - I think - from years ago where the ref was ‘miked-up with body cam’. Arsenal were playing someone… the amount of abuse the ref got was amazing - bullying techniques from players; questioning every decision etc; in the refs face etc. I don’t watch rugby - but from snippets I’ve seen the referees seem to command respect. Is it the game? The calibre of players? the philosophy of rugby ? I don’t know. But there does need to be some weight of a change required. Maybe pay the refs 10% of the players income ? Raise the status of being a ref?I was a ref for over 30 years. In my last game I sent off a mouthy young man for calling me a dickhead. The following Tuesday at our ref’s meeting I was criticised because the word used wasn’t considered “sweary” enough. My kit bag - whistle, boots, flags, uniform etc - is still in the bottom of my wardrobe, unopened since that evening.