Referees

I can’t imagine what kind of frustrations referees have on a weekly basis: players are always giving them grief, managers always disagree and literally entire crowds end up hating them on a routine basis. If we are all supposed to fear the wrath of a quiet man, then a referee going off the deep end is just about the most terrifying thing I can imagine. And thanks to this La Liga official, I don’t have to imagine that hard anymore. 

Michael Oliver is a Premier League referee, so it was odd to see him running the sidelines at an Arsenal womens game. Turns out, he didn't start out the night indentding to ref.

Michael Oliver is in the crowd tonight. Weird to see him in civilian clothing somehow.....

— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) August 27, 2015

Mohammed Al-Hakim might be the bravest referee in the world. Al-Hakim, who works in the Swedish top division, has created a Facebook page where he explains various decisions he made during matches.

Ostensibly, this sounds like a grand idea, a way for referees to better connect with fans and perhaps come to some kind of understanding. Case in point: the long and we're sure (although we can't read Swedish) well explained post below:

Seriously, is the Gold Cup fixed? Miguel Herrera earlier claimed various forces were against Mexico in the tournament, but now it looks like various forces (and by "forces, we mean "referees") want Mexico to win win the Gold Cup more than they want anything in the world.

First, there was this penalty, which we'll call "dubious." 

I can see it both ways. But the Costa Rican team, and various Costa Rican politicians, were pissed.

Yellow cards are often met with anger, but we have never, ever seen anyone take out that anger like this.

Peruvian referee Ramon Blanco handed out five red cards in the final five minutes of a game, a including one to a coach, and needed a police escort from the pitch.

The Brazilian Clássico dos Milhões broke out in a 22 man brawl. The ref was left with no choice but to lay down the law.

3 punches to the face. 2 red cards. 1 flying kick to the chest. Uzbekistan may have actually killed a player for crying’ out loud.