LONDON ¨C Lunch with a former Premier League referee was going well until the chat about his forthcoming holiday was interrupted by another customer. ¡°You didn¡¯t give Arsenal a penalty in 2011 against Manchester United. It was nailed on. You cost us three points,¡± he told my lunch companion.
I was shocked at such rudeness. The ex-referee said it happens regularly ¡°and at least this guy didn¡¯t swear.¡± Even in retirement the abuse goes on.
Fans remember what they perceive to be injustices because television scrutiny of match officials is now often greater than discussions about how a goal was scored or a significant change in a team¡¯s tactics. Much better to forensically examine a tackle, red card or marginal offside than talk about how the game was won.
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