Respect?

Following the shenanigans at the end of the Chelsea/Barcelona match last week, the question of respect for referees is once again much in the news. I think we're looking at the wrong thing - it's not respect for referees that's in issue here - it's respect for the laws of the game. And these laws say that the referee can't get it wrong - he is the sole judge of fact. The question of whether we agree with his decision or not is therefore meaningless - it's his decision and that's an end of it. Until players - and managers - accept this we will not progress. What's the alternative? Decisions by consensus? Have a free-for-all punch-up and the last man standing wins the day? Flip a coin? Phone a friend? The present situation where players and managers constantly attempt to influence the referee's decisions stem from an unwillingness to accept the basic fact that this is not like cricket where you appeal to an umpire for a decision - the referee says what's what and that's it. Criticise him by all means, but respect the laws by which the game is played.