Lunch with a former Premier League referee was going well until the chat about his forthcoming holiday was interrupted by another customer. "You didn't give Arsenal a penalty in 2011 against Manchester United. It was nailed on. You cost us three points," he told my lunch companion.
I was shocked at such rudeness. The ex-referee said it happens regularly "and at least this guy didn't swear." Even in retirement the abuse goes on.
Fans remember what they perceive to be injustices because television scrutiny of match officials is now often greater than discussions about how a goal was scored or a significant change in a team's tactics. Much better to forensically examine a tackle, red card or marginal offside than talk about how the game was won.