I think that Soccerboy has touched on a sensitive nerve that many of us have. It's not his comments per say, but when it comes to referees, we feel their is no recourse when a bad one lands on our kid's field.
I think so much anger and frustration with the ref's is the fact that they are untouchable. I have NEVER heard of a referee losing his\her license over negligence or unprofessionalism. I have NEVER heard of a ref being reprimanded for negligence or unprofessionalism. We see it from the local level all the way to the world stage.
Maybe what the game needs is better oversight over the officials. We are all human and we are all going to make mistakes, but every parent out there has a referee they absolutely dread seeing walk up to the field. That referee that seems to always get it wrong.
I am not a ref although I had the license and have ref'd a few matches, I didn't enjoy the game from that perspective so I never persued it any further. I understand it is difficult and that calls will be missed or wrong. That is part of the game, but when it is done consistantly and without regard, it becomes dreadful.
I certainly don't condone parents or players addressing referees, but that will never go away until another avenue for redress is available.
