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The Whistleblower

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Butchers, bakers, candlestick makers – or teachers,
Draughtsmen and the like; honest occupations of the
Men in black, striving valiantly to keep up with play.
You got to know their names, and where they came
From; no game without them – to arbitrate, negotiate,
Persuade and punish. Acme thunderer held twixt lips.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 They tried their best, they loved the game – not
Just themselves; The odd booking or two, if it got
Really dirty – marching orders were the last resort,
Not an easy cop out. They were men’s men; could
Swear with the best, but kept a mutual respect with
Players; they knew each others’ strengths and limits.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Today, it’s all professional; same refs, same teams
Week in, week out…familiarity breeds contempt,
And favouritism; agents, websites, celebrity status
All at a price. The centre of media attention, so you’ve
Got to look your sharpest; designer kit, ear-piece,
Yellows and reds to the fore – a name to remember.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The long-suffering whistler now a Match Official,
His linesmen Assistants – but weren’t they ever so ?
And with the lucre comes the ‘dissing’; pushed over,
Man-handled, abused face to face – outnumbered and
Criticised from all directions; under the microscope,
Under pressure, undermined by cameras and ‘experts’.

Notes

Refs are humans, too !

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-whistleblower/?shared=email&msg=fail