Thank you!
I know all the f**kwit fans who constantly run down the refs think we can just bring in new refs - NSW Cup and the like, but refereeing numbers are a serious problem in local competitions. Many comps have 60 year old refs still trying to run around and there's no one coming up to replace them. Many of them have to do at least 2 games a week and run 2 more sidelines just to get abused every game. The things said on the sidelines to the refs are disgusting. They don't even let up on young kids who are trying to have a go reffing junior games.
I've been doing it the last 2 years. I'm 28 and still playing and the last thing I want to do after playing is run back out and ref the next game. One of our comps has 6 clubs and all 3 games are played at the one venue each week, 3 times this year I played for my club then ran back out to ref the next game. One week I got an anonymous letter in the mail saying I was a 'cheat' an 'embarrassment' and to cut it out lest I be 'publicly humiliated'. Now who the f**k is that geniused to send a threatening letter to a country referee?
Anyway all this abusive shit that trickles down to local A-grade through to U6s starts with our media personalities abusing the shit out of referees every week. They need to set an example for how fans should treat referees, but they don't because on slow-mo replay it's clear that the call was 50/50 but it didn't follow the narrative we want so lets bag the ref out.
I recently watched the 1985 Challenge Cup Final. Long held up as one of the great games of all time. Its on You Tube
A few minutes in, a knock on, ref blows a penalty for laying in the ruck.
Today we'd get an inquest from people screaming that the game has been destroyed. Then, the commentator said "ref has blown a penalty which is quickly taken and Hull are on the attack"
The callers called. They didn't give a million opinions on why the game was being ruined. It was a joy to watch.
I do boxing every week. After 30 minutes simple combinations become really hard. Fatigue plays a part. Mistakes will occur. Referees are not immune to this and nor should they be. We shouldn't expect it of them.
Its easy to criticise sitting at home. If people want to throw f**king barbs they should get out there and do. If they can't they can shut the f**k up.
