The Rational RefSorry seems to be the easiest word for referees' boss Mike Riley
The man who should be standing up for match officials is instead offering apologies for alleged 'mistakes' on the pitch
Should referees apologise for their decisions? Should players say sorry for taking a shot from a reasonable distance that just misses the target? Should coaches be apologetic for making substitutions in an attempt to affect the match dynamics? The context is that all these processes on the pitch are not mistakes or grave errors; they are sincere decisions made by individuals when a situation occurs.
Making decisions is what everyone does, whether they be players, coaches or match officials. Even not making a decision is making one. As referees, making calls is one of the main responsibilities of the job. It has been estimated a referee makes about 800 voluntary decisions in a single match.
English Premier League referee Andre Marriner was put under the spotlight for his decision to award a last-gasp penalty to Chelsea last month.
Riley's sign of weakness has riled many match officials because it has apparently opened the gates of the asylum
This was because privileged Chelsea were staring at the jaws of a 2-1 home defeat by unfashionable West Bromwich Albion, which would also have snapped Blues manager Jose Mourinho's non-losing streak at Stamford Bridge.
The penalty decision, where Marriner adjudged defender Steven Reid to have fouled midfielder Ramires in the penalty area, enabled Chelsea to equalise from the spot and claim a point.
Let's not forget that making calls is what referees do in the moment, and offering opinion is what commentators do after they have had time to review, reflect and re-analyse the moment in the comfort of their armchairs.
Let's also not forget that Marriner is one of the better referees in the EPL. He had the honour of officiating last season's FA Cup final between Manchester City and Wigan, which is the English game's traditional recognition of a top-performing referee.
The rules of the game state: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, is final". Marriner made a decision in the moment, and it was final.