JOHANNESBURG — A new study has found that rugby referees develop an unusual fondness for disappointing large groups of people long before entering the profession.
Researchers discovered that most referees displayed early signs of enjoying confrontation, arbitrary decisions and the sound of people shouting at them.
‘Many volunteered to referee playground games, disallowed perfectly good goals and refused to explain why,’ said lead researcher Dr Johan Pretorius.
The study found that future referees were particularly drawn to activities where they could exercise authority without being particularly popular.
Researchers believe rugby provides the ideal career path for these individuals, combining international travel, unquestionable authority and the opportunity to upset thousands of people.
Surprisingly, the study found that referees derived greater professional satisfaction from controversial decisions than correct ones.
‘For most people, being booed by an entire stadium would be traumatic,’ Pretorius explained. ‘For referees, it’s positive feedback.’
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The Hadeda Heckler is a South African satirical news website. Some stories are invented, others are exaggerated and a few are disturbingly close to the truth. Any resemblance to actual government competence or the stupidity of the average man or woman is purely coincidental.
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