Give the Ref a Break ! [20 Sep @ 6:37pm]

With the start of the new season only weeks away I would ask that parents, spectators, players and officials give our referees a break. These guys are vital to us but sometimes they are subjected to so much abuse I wonder why they actually carry on doing it. Without people to officiate there will be no football - it's as simple as that. Every week we see the decisions of premier league referees and their assistants being subjected to the most intense scrutiny and often the ref, or one of his team, is shown to have made the wrong call. There were quite a few controversial decisions made during the recent world cup. The officials in these matches are all well paid, highly trained and fit individuals. Now for some reason in local leagues we expect our officials, virtually all of whom are unpaid volunteers, to be better and not to make a mistake. To all of you out there please just accept the fact that mistakes happen and live with it without causing a major scene on the side of the pitch. Don't direct abuse at the referee. Oh yes - try to accept that the referee is not necessarily wrong if he gives a decision that you don't agree with. SHOW SOME RESPECT