Game
10, 2016-17
Four minutes to go, the score's 2-3 in a furious
and foul-ridden boys' under-17 game, and I blow for a penalty to the home team.
It's an unnecessary foul from the defender, who stands his ground and then backs
into a forward as he's jumping for the ball. The forward goes arse over tit and
lands in a heap. I'm five yards away - a clear foul, a clear penalty.
 |
| Yet again, the ref uses his special powers to force a defender to commit a foul in the penalty area. |
The away team sees it differently. Five
players surround me and yell. Their bench is up on its feet, expressing solidarity
through raised arms and rubicund outrage. It's been like this the whole second
half, from both teams. Amazingly, I don't change my mind. I show a yellow to
the loudest dissenter and they back off. The home team converts the penalty.
Want to read more? Click here to order Reffing Hell: Stuck In The Middle Of A Game Gone Wrong by Ian Plenderleith (Halcyon Publishing), published on August 8, 2022.
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