Men In Black

Where are your glasses, ref! !! Kelong!! Go home!! "What's your problem? Clear foul what!?

These are just a couple of mild comments I heard during a recent game in the Sleague. And of course, there are harsher and nastier ones, and those that can't make it to print. Why the sudden patriotism? Okay okay, EPL's over. So it's back to the Sleague. But before we go there, this article is not about patriotism. For once, let's give the limelight to the Men In Black - referees.

If not for the love of the game, I seriously doubt if anyone would take great pains to pore over rule books, burn midnight oil and take exams for them to take to the pitch as the man in the middle. Always under the scrutiny of fans, managers and coaches, referees have the thankless job of keeping the game clean.

In a World Cup match, their slightest mistake make headlines all over the world. Without any qualms, referees have to be objective and not take sides. On the other hand, they are humans too, and have feelings. And as the saying goes, to err is human.

Since becoming a referee in 1977, Pierluigi Collina has refereed 181 Serie A matches. With such vast experience, even he admits it's not easy to be a referee.

So fans, managers, the young and old, before you start your verbal abuse on these poor fellows, calm down and think about this: they are doing it for the love of the game. After all, "footballers are the ones having fun exhibiting their skills on the pitch, and the referees can only watch." And that's a qoute from the renowned Collina.