A Soccer Ref Asking A Player Out During A Game Highlights Everything Wrong With Officiating

Years ago, long before the replay system, long before we watched games in HD and dissected every singe play in slow motion, referees were put on a pedestal. They were basically infallible. They said something, they made a ruling, and we treated it as gospel. We didn’t question their behavior, boorish as it was at times. We allowed them to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, even if it came at the expense of a game’s integrity.

Then Tim Donaghy happened, then people started taking a close look at their shenanigans. Joe Crawford ejecting Tim Duncan for laughing on the bench was the nadir, a trough so deep that the NBA was forced to suspend him for the absurdity.

And now comes story of a soccer player in Spain who says a ref (Santiago Quijada Alcon) asked her out…during the game. Because, sure, code of conduct be damned. Not to mention respect of someone’s personal space.

A rough translation of the exchange was detailed by The Sun.

The whistler allegedly told the shocked Romanian: “Hey brown-hair, let’s get coffee this afternoon.” …

She said: “I’ve stopped believing in football, in fair play.

“I feel helpless, humiliated. In the many years I’ve been playing football I’ve never felt so ashamed.

“Better stick to blowing your whistle.”

Needless to say, Elena Pavel (pictured above) rejected the offer because she has a good head on her shoulders. Sadly, no punishment will come from this. It’s a he-said, she-said kind of thing and Pavel doesn’t plan on pushing this any further. This is all very dumb.

[Sports Illustrated]