Referees Controversy 
By: Ashley McBurnett

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    Many people believe referees are not fair. People believe referees choose the team they want to win and then just make calls that will result in that team winning. People also say they think teams and fans pay off the referees so they will choose that team and help them win. That has been the talk for years because some teams should win but they do not, because the game is supposedly not fair. 

    Many people said they have watched a game and thought maybe the referees were paid to help the team win. Terry McBurnett, of Powder Springs, GA, stated, “I have watched games before and been like this does not feel right. This feels rigged and so unfair.” McBurnett went on to say, “Sometimes it is very annoying, because it is obvious that some referees do not want a team to win, so they will make crazy calls that are not even there in the game.”

    Some people think referees are always fair because they say it is supposed to be a game that is fair and not the referees playing the game. Jason Marlowe, of Rockmart, GA, explained, “I really do not think football games are rigged. Them Georgia Bulldog fans are always trying to say Alabama pays the referees or makes the referees choose them to win, but they are just babies. That is not true.” Marlowe went on to state, “The football games are fair because the referees would get in trouble if they were not. Like they could get fired or lose money if they are caught taking money and helping a team win.”

    Many people say that people just make up things to make it look like football games are unfair. Cadence Tyler a sophmore of Hillgrove High School explained, “ There are some times where the plays are awful and every single time something good will happen for a team the referees will have a different opinion about it so I can see why people would pay them. [However] it does not make it right.” Tyler went on to say, “I do not think it happens too often, but it especially happens on the games that matter most.” 

    The referees do not always make fair calls, but it is also not always their fault. Sometimes they are paid off to help someone win even though that is not right. That is why it is very important to watch them and pay attention to their actions.

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