One doesn’t very often get to see a referee acknowledge his mistake during the match, at least not in top-level football.
But a Danish referee seemingly went against the grain and has perhaps delivered the most wholesome moment we’ll see this season.
A match official became visibly distraught as he sank to the ground after realizing that he had made a big mistake by not playing advantage.
The incident took place during the 1-1 draw between Vendsyssel FF and FC Fredericia in the Danish 1st Division (the second tier of the Danish football league).
It was a bad sequence of events for the ref no doubt, but Twitter loved how he was able to recognize and take responsibility for his mistake.
Check out the reaction below.
The moment
This is crazy … referee doesn’t play advantage and realizes very quickly that was a huge mistake 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IN7FndMqmO
— Jordan Gardner (@mrjordangardner) August 22, 2021
Notice how the players reacted
Look how the players react to him because of his honest reaction though.
— Benjamin Alan (@bhugheslfc) August 23, 2021
Anyone notice the behaviour of the players?
— Andy White (@Andeee235) August 23, 2021
If referees took conviction and responsibility for when they were wrong or potentially wrong people would understand their decisions more
Power hungry referees that refuse to communicate are why players go crazy https://t.co/P2GcQvjsR0
Interestingly because he said ‘sorry’ there was no issue from the players
— phil gibbs (@gibbsbarrister) August 23, 2021
Much better than VAR
I prefer an honest mistake like this over those made far away by VAR. Seems if the players think the same.
— Johannes (@Joe_initram) August 23, 2021
No respite for Premier League referees
Love it. I can just imagine some of the prem refs acting like a knob and then booking players for having natural reactions.
— Moderna Man Dem (@kcpk1988) August 23, 2021
This is the humility we wish we saw in the Premier League. It’s normal to make mistakes but the doubling down we see from prem refs makes it seem like they have an agenda.
— kanesh 🇵🇸 (@KanoDattani) August 23, 2021
No respite for Championship referees
This Danish referee showing he’s better than ~90% of referees in the championship in 30 secs by making a mistake 😂 https://t.co/ZLDSMcg5HY
— María Kjartansdóttir (@MariaKj1991) August 23, 2021
Human moment
Human moment. Very cool
— S0ccerH0ckeyG0lf (@drkennyc) August 23, 2021
A proud ref
Thats a man that takes pride in what he does
— J Bro (@jbro21_) August 22, 2021
Mike Dean in the mud
He wouldn’t last 5 minutes in the Barclays. Big Mike Dean books everyone who reacts adversely to that. https://t.co/odjIoIjrKQ
— Dan Reilly (@DanReilly92) August 23, 2021
From the referee’s mouth
Amazing response from the players Jordan, we must give them credit for their emotional intelligence and controlled behaviour.
— Refsupportuk (@refsupportuk) August 23, 2021
Many refs have been here, trust me on that https://t.co/Wt6gaNSgwq