Referees should not savour the spotlight

PERHAPS the best piece of advice ever handed out to football referees came from Alan Hardaker, a much-respected former Football League secretary.

“Referees should arrive by the back door,” said Hardaker. “And leave by the back door.”

I thought of that observation as Mark Hughes was chewing somewhat bitterly on his sour grapes following Blackburn’s defeat against Manchester United in the Carling Cup semi-final.