The Ref Now

"Of course," Arthur replied, his voice a steady anchor in the chaos.

As the young forward stepped up for the free-kick, he looked at Arthur, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "I can take this, right?" the boy whispered. The Ref

The boy chipped the ball over the goalkeeper’s reaching hands. The home crowd went wild. Arthur didn't celebrate; he simply turned toward the halfway line, his mind already reflecting on the call. He knew that later, in the quiet of his car, he’d replay the moment, wondering if his positioning had been perfect or if doubt, a referee’s worst enemy, would creep in. "Of course," Arthur replied, his voice a steady