The general concensus about the back page story - even from some referees - was that the assertion that there is a clique within the whistling fraternity is absolutely spot on and that the facts are there to prove that only a small number of officials get to take charge of the top games in the county. The main gripe is that some referees overlooked for plum ties are actually better at their job than some entrusted with these ties.
On the other hand, one or two
people did say that such negative publicity is a deterrent to aspiring referees and tars all the hardworking officials with the same brush, causing great hurt and anguish to those who do a good honest job and try their best in what are always very testing circumstances.
I'd be the first to admit the innocent can sometimes suffer because of the misgivings of others, what you might call guilty by association. That is unfortunate, but I have
constantly said in this column it is a thankless task and I wouldn't do it, whatever the material reward.
One thing that did emerge was that the main barrier to the cultivation of an attitude of respect for referees from supporters, players and
officials was a lack of credibility that has been gained by the men in the middle themselves - and also what is often their failure to make a stand when their decisions are not backed by the people in power.
For example, if a player is guilty of an offence - regardless of who he is or what the consequences may trigger - then he definitely should be punished accordingly. A minor physical offence merits reporting as such and not be downgraded to verbal abuse, while a serious assault should not go into his report as a less serious misdemeanour, and a straight red card never be reduced to two yellows. But these things happen!
It is totally wrong if a referee is perceived to have been knobbled - or at best chickened out of doing his duty.
Watching the Champions League Final last Wednesday night, the definitive moment for me was when Drogba was sent off for what in GAA would almost inevitably pass off as a teasing touch on the cheek. As someone said, that fussy referee would brandish more red cards than Donal Dorman if he took charge of any match at any level you care to name in Tyrone next weekend.
The referees are not helped at all by powers-that-be who should be totally transparent when punishments are handed out but, more especially, when appeals are successful.
Details via press releases should be mandatory. Until it happens accusations of cover-ups will always be prevalent, rightly or wrongly. Referees deserve better protection.