I truly can’t imagine being a referee, particularly on the youth, middle school, or high school levels.
The amount of abuse they’ve received from parents, other fans, and students in recent years has gotten out of control, and it’s getting harder and harder to find people who are willing to put themselves through this on a daily basis.
So, when a referee takes this much torment, every man and woman has their breaking point, and that’s probably the reasoning behind this referee’s reaction.
According to WANE 15, this one went down at an eighth grade basketball game at SportONE Parkview Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana this past Saturday.
In the footage, you can see a parent verbally attacking the referee, and you can see who appears to be his wife or girlfriend trying to restrain him at first.
However, he gets past her, and beelines it straight for the referee.
It’s unclear what the parent said to the ref, but apparently it was enough for him to try and tackle the guy.
You can see the parent try to throw a few haymakers while the ref has him by the waist, until he ultimately gets slammed right in front of the bleachers as players and other spectators pull them apart.
Witnesses tell the outlet that the altercation started after the parent was asked to leave the game. The parent then got even more heated, and that’s what ultimately started the fight.
Man, I just hate it for the child of this parent, who had to be incredibly embarrassed during this whole situation.
If you start a fight with a referee at your child’s game, I don’t care what sport it is, you’re a certified loser… no excuses. Imagine wanting to physically fight another man over a bunch of 12-year-olds playing with a ball… grow up you bum.
Check it out:
