17 July

Maybe it’s working so long in governance that makes me see and think this. But when you watch professional sport, who are by far the most skilled people out there on the court or field? It’s the referees. By far. The people everybody loves to hate. What they do out there is easily more difficult than being a player. They have to watch a dozen or more athletes, all the time, playing at elite speeds, and not just identify rule-breaking but make a decision in real time as to which to penalise, and which to allow, for the flow of the game, without compromising fairness. They have to be physical athletes themselves too, to keep up with professional athletes in constant fast motion. All while processing everything I said above, on the move. It’s phenomenal when you think about it. And they make mistakes, because who wouldn’t in that situation. They make far fewer mistakes than players.