OFFICIALS, sometimes, get to influence the outcome of matches with a few calls or even one game-changing call, but I doubt anyone has been as involved in the outcome of a match as one of the referees involved in the University of Cebu vs. University of Southern Philippines Foundation match in the Cesafi.
With the match safely concluded as UC was up 81-55, the referee, inexplicably, got involved in a fracas himself with the USPF players.
Instead of, well, playing the referee, it seemed he was auditioning for tonight’s Pinoy Pride when he reportedly threatened a player that he’ll beat him up outside the venue.
Clyde Avanceña, the player in question, allegedly threw an errant pass that missed intended target Lyndon Colina and almost hit the referee. The official wasn’t pleased and thinking that the “miss” was an intentional attempt to hit him, warned Avanceña and challenged him to a fight.
That prompted a bench-clearing, which led to the entire USPF bench getting ejected.
That wasn’t the end of it. While the USPF bench was waiting for word from the technical officials, the referees walked out of the game.
That has got to be a first in Cesafi basketball history, referees walking out of the game.
Now where does that leave Cesafi?
Applying a football solution, players who harm referees always get the stiffest of penalties; heck superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for four games after shoving a ref just recently. And if that’s the case, if players get stiff penalties for harming refs, shouldn’t it also be the case for refs who cross the line?
Whether warranted or not, the referee had no right to challenge the player to a fight. And don’t refs sometimes chide players who complain a lot, “if you don’t want to get hit, don’t play ball.”
Well, if you don’t want to get hit by an errant pass, don’t officiate?
Leagues generally protect and take the side of their officials in disputes because sometimes players and coaches do tend to complain a lot and see infractions when there are none. It’s true.
But what about this unique case? When it’s the referee who started the fracas?
There has been a drop in physical incidents since the league started implementing stiff penalties for ejections or unsportsmanlike conduct. I think the same penalty for an erring ref is called for.