Football history

ASSOCIATION GAME
161
call to mind a decision given by a timid referee which entirely
altered the result of a most important match; the gentleman
in question first gave a goal to one side, and then reversed his
decision to giving it a kick-off from goal to the other. This
timidity, then, is no small objection, and should be got rid of
at once.
Lastly, since it is allowed that a referee's task is most
thankless, and at the same time most difficult, it is only fair
and reasonable that he should look for great consideration at
the hands of players. Unfortunately, he generally fails to get
what he has a right to expect. It is no easy thing, perhaps,
for a player to keep his tongue still when he sees a decision
given which he practically knows to be wrong, and which may
have ruinous results on the game, yet, at the same time, he
must remember that that decision has been given by the referee
to the best of his ability, and that, if it is allowable for men
to make mistakes, it is far more so for referees. Players,
then, should remember how difficult his duties are, and that
he has done his best, paying attention also to these two points
—firstly, that in many cases, if not in most, his opinion is as
good as theirs; secondly, that it is unalterable, however much.
they may talk.