Ref justice in the NFL

No doubt a much downtrodden group of people across the globe are keeping a close eye these days on the fate of their brethren in the US.

So far, the referees are faring well out of the NFL lockout; the professional ones on strike that is, not the amateurs the league have drafted in to replace them.

The strike is about pay and conditions, after refs threw a flag down on the league’s play to reduce some of their entitlements when a collective bargaining agreement expired this summer.

And, after just two rounds of games, nobody is impressed with their replacements. There have been scores of bizarre decisions and worries about impartiality. One official was dropped from a New Orleans fixture after his Facebook revealed him to be a Saints fan. And Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy insisted another referee urged him on before a game for the sake of his fantasy league team.

Gradually, then, the group of 121 exiled officials, are beginning to know, for probably the first time, public affection.

And, as the clamour grows for their return, is there a lesson, maybe, for those who freely impugn officials in all codes? Perhaps, despite popular contention, they do know what they’re doing.