Who’d want to be a referee? It’s like being a policeman, only worse. You spend your time telling people what to do, yet no one respects or likes you. It’s conferred authority on the scale of the school prefect or shop-steward. The actions of a former victim clutching at the straws of power.
Last week the world bore witness to a bout of utterly feckless decision making by a certain Norwegian official. But, alas, Tom Henning Obrevo, fear not; you are in esteemed company within our own fair shores. Let us take a look at the Premier League’s worst referees.
Graham Poll
So, the Premier League, allegedly the best in the world, sends the cream of their officiating crop to the 2006 World Cup. Graham Poll then proceeds to make an absolute fool of himself by booking Dario Simunic three times. Even now, with his career over, he still refuses to go away, writing a book and booking his place in the media studio.
Mike Dean
You can tell Mike Dean doesn’t have the minerals for a big occasion just by looking at him. The small svelte shoulders, the weak and feeble jaw and his little pot belly, belie a feeble man. Looks can be deceiving, but sometimes they can’t.
Stuart Atwell
Young Stuart has made an absolute prat of himself since becoming England’s youngest referee. There have been a succession of shocking decisions during his inaugural season, although at 24-years-old he still has a lot to learn. Perhaps he should start with what constitutes a goal.
Uriah Renee
Positive discrimination was quite possibly to thank for Uriah Renee’s promotion to Premier League officialdom. Negative feedback was responsible for his swift demotion back to the Football League.