#referees

#referees

She was 14, working a youth game in Southwest Florida, when she awarded a throw-in. As the team which lost possession protested vehemently, an opposing player stepped into the scrum and sheepishly confessed to touching the ball last. "I'm like, 'OK, well thanks for admitting that. I guess we'll throw it the other way, right?'" said Unkel who, as an attorney in addition to being an official, knows the value of a confession.

Everton and referees haven't always seen eye-to-eye. Duncan Ferguson's goal in UEFA Champions League qualifying during the summer of 2004, which was, many believe erroneously, ruled out continues to turn even the most level-headed Blue a shade of red. It is perhaps surprising then to discover that one of the Toffees' most revered former players of recent times has been sharing a Christmas Dinner table with an official all these years.

For me, it's just sport, it's just football. We have to protect everyone involved in the game...It's not fair play not to look after [the referees], it's not showing them respect.