“Are you blind? He’s been up my fucking ass all game.”
My poker face doesn’t move. My hand stays high in the air.
Brandon Nix keeps yelling, now his hands go to his hips. I’ve watched enough nature documentaries to know this is typical male posturing to make him seem bigger. We’re practically nose to nose.
Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
I just need him to take a step—or ten—back.
Though I want to knee him in the ’nads, I don’t move a muscle. I’m not lowering my hand until he stops screaming in my face.
The goalie, CC Campbell, finally pulls Brandon back. I continue on with standard procedure, documenting the player’s name, foul, and time of foul. I repeat the information into my headset and am ready to move on with game play.
Without Brandon Nix.
It’s not my fault this is his second yellow card during the game. In soccer, yellow cards are cautions for offenses that are larger than a minor foul but not serious. When a player receives two yellow cards, it equates to a red. Soccer math. I didn’t make the rules; I strictly enforce them.
Red cards are used for serious misconduct and discipline. For egregious offenses, they may result in suspension over multiple games. At a minimum, the player cannot start the next game. And the most damaging impact is the player is not replaced with a substitute for the remainder of this one, leaving his teammates shorthanded. It can be a long second half when a player gets sent off early in the game.
Brandon Nix should have considered that before he kicked Trevyon Wallis-Smalls while they were both attempting to play the ball. Hell, that kick would have been a red card all on its own.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. I immediately shrug, jerking it off. It’s also a high offense to touch a referee. I turn, ready to issue another red card only to see Mike.
He puts his hand over his mic and leans in. “Are you okay? Do you need to leave? I can step in.”
I forget my stoic face for a moment as my brows raise in surprise. “What? Why? No.”
I turn around, shaking my head, and position the ball for the indirect penalty kick that will start the game back up.
I cannot believe my ex-husband thinks a blowhard like Brandon Nix is enough to shake me. I may hate the way he plays soccer, and I hate the way he conducts himself as a player even more. But to step down simply because Brandon Nix got in my face and questioned my call?
That’s ridiculous.
Chapter 2: Brandon
This ref doesn’t knowwhat she’s doing. I can’t believe she gave me my second yellow and had me sent off.
