Blowing the Whistle

<p><strong>The football referee. Charged with controlling the players and enforcing the laws of the most popular and passionate game on the planet, they are often alone and always outnumbered.</strong> They ply their trade in the face of competitive athletes and a partisan crowd, all desperate to sway judgments in their favour. Along with players and coaches, they are the only people who can influence the result of a football match, yet despite such importance, there are many questions.</p><p>- Are referees influenced by the crowd?</p><p>- Do referees favour the home side?</p><p>- Do ''big name'' players and managers get treated differently?</p><p>- Are referees arrogant?</p><p>- Why would anyone want to be a referee?</p><p>- Do we really trust the referee?</p><p>- Do we neglect the mental health of referees?</p><p>- How can a referee prepare psychologically for a game?</p><p>In <em>Blowing the Whistle: The Psychology of Football Refereeing,</em> these questions, and more, are answered