Ever pondered about the gruelling life of a referee? Constantly rushing back and forth across the field for up to 90 minutes, while enduring relentless verbal attacks. It’s a scene I distinctly recall witnessing in an Irish league match in Athlone, where one spectator didn’t miss a chance to loudly dissect the game in minute detail for the benefit of the linesman, punctuating the air with his cry of, “Oi, lino!” and vehement hand gestures. It was a continual stream of critique, reminding me of Rutger Hauer’s profoundly desolate soliloquy at the conclusion of Blade Runner.
The verbal onslaught only increases for female referees, as highlighted in the enlightening documentary, More Than a Whistle (RTÉ2, Tuesdays, 10pm). Michelle O’Neill, a football referee herself, shares, “Insults like ‘go back to the kitchen’ and ‘shouldn’t you be cooking?’ are common.” Former Ireland rugby star, Joy Neville, shares the sentiment, emphasizing the need to perform flawlessly to avoid any ‘woman card’ criticisms.
According to Maggie Farrelly, another highly respected official from the GAA, this pressure can be quite unsettling and daunting. It often feels like the whole world is scrutinising your decisions. Case in point, during a key Six Nations game, Neville, as the video referee, was tasked with deciding if a try should be given. She did what was correct and gave England the points, essentially sealing their victory. This, as expected, triggered a wave of derogatory comments on social media from French fans. Neville, resilient as she is, bore the criticism, however, she expresses concern for younger referees dealing with such harsh negative scrutiny.
Moreover, a pertinent question that emerges from their experiences: Who indeed, would want to be a female referee, bearing the brunt of sexist remarks while trying to officiate a game? The answer to this lies within More Than a Whistle, along with the exploration of other very Irish experiences such as Garron Noone’s culinary podcast, “Listen, I’m Delicious”, and an insightful critique of the show Generation Z. The week’s sporting events viewing guide completes the spectacle.
O’Neill innovatively used headphones blaring the sounds of an unruly crowd during training sessions in Wexford to acclimatise herself to the hostility she experienced during the Dublin League of Ireland matches. Her intention was to be unfazed by negativity, thereby ensuring the uproar wouldn’t meddle with her performance.
However, the journey to acceptance for female athletes, both in Ireland and globally, remains a long-distance one. Observers attending men’s matches in Ireland, officiated by women, can discern the disparate criteria for judging female officials.
The documentary, “More Than a Whistle”, aims to shed light on these issues, offering a detailed portrayal of the three featured referees. At home, Neville, alongside her wife Simona Coppola, discusses the difficulties of regularly travelling abroad whilst parenting a young child. Furthermore, Farrelly from Cavan shared instances of missing significant family events. She admitted skipping weddings and Christenings due to her commitments.
Whilst these sacrifices are hefty, they willingly made them. Neville recollects reaching out to a high-ranked rugby official in Ireland, asking if she should attempt refereeing. The response was one of scepticism, doubting he would live to see a woman officiating a senior match. Nonetheless, she accomplished exactly that a few years later – a monumental achievement for her and for the advancement of women’s sports in Ireland.