I’ve found another way to ruin sports for myself. I thought I’d already tried every possible way to crank up the stress, but now I’ve stumbled on a new one. I guess I need the anxiety to feel alive.
I’ve been like this for a long time. I’ve never been able to watch a game without picking a team or a player to cheer for. It started when I was about five. I looked up to my granddad, and since he wanted West Brom to win, so did I. That kind of thing becomes a habit, and maybe not a healthy one. I thought I’d grow out of it, but it’s only getting worse. And it’s gone way beyond just my own football team.
When I was a kid, it was about admiring adults who seemed so much older. Back then, they were old enough to be my parents. I really wanted the best for them. Now the athletes are young enough to be my children or even grandchildren, and it’s even harder—because I feel protective of them. I was at Wimbledon this week and saw the great Serena Williams make her comeback, which was amazing. But as soon as I saw her opponent—pale, slight, and looking nervous—I knew I was in trouble.
I’d never heard of Maya Joint until she walked onto the court, but as soon as I read that she’d lost 15 of her last 18 matches, I wanted her to win more than anything. When she took the first set, I went home because I couldn’t stand to watch her throw away the lead. Then I watched the rest of the match on my phone on the train. And she won. If I’d stayed, she probably wouldn’t have. I hope she appreciates the part I played in her victory.
But there’s something even more stressful than picking a side—following one person within a team. I first experienced this with rugby, watching my friends’ son play for England against South Africa at Twickenham. That was winger Dan Luger. Rugby union is a 15 vs 15 sport, except when you’re sitting with the parents of one of the players. Then it becomes a 29 vs 1 contest. That means all 15 players on the other team, plus all 14 of your player’s teammates, who you feel might let him down at any moment. The stress is unbelievable.
Same with football. Sam Field, the son of very close friends of mine, was in the West Brom youth system when he was in primary school. After about ten years of non-stop commitment from everyone involved, he finally made his debut for the first team. I can’t speak for his parents, but on that day, whether you were a West Brom fan or not, the match went from 11 vs 11 to 21 vs 1.
Which brings me to where I am now. For certain World Cup football matches, it’s not 11 vs 11 for me, or even 21 vs 1, but—believe it or not—22 vs 1. How? Well, even I find it hard to believe, but I’ve started supporting a referee.
Last summer I was in Sarajevo, working with a charity that brings together children from all over the former Yugoslavia to play sports. The final event attracts big names from the sports world. Among the superstars there was a cheerful Italian guy I couldn’t quite place. It turned out he was there to referee the main event—a match between the superstars and the winning kids’ team. That was Maurizio Mariani, a lovely, wise, gentle man who referees in Italy’s top league, Serie A.
We kept in touch a bit over the year, exchanging the odd text, and then I saw he’d been chosen as one of the referees for the World Cup. I congratulated him, and he replied how grateful and proud he was to have the chance. A dream come true. For sure, this was going to change my World Cup.
I started scanning every match looking for his name. Then, there he was, making his debut as a World Cup referee in charge of Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay. Oof, that’s a tough one. The Uruguayans can be a bit, well, fiery. At the 2014 World Cup, one of them bit an Italian player! They’d better keep their teeth off my Maurizio.
As far as I know, he survived without being bitten. I can’t even tell you what the score was—I’ve already forgotten—but I don’t think the ref made a single mistake. And I’m proud of him.The air changed when a commentator said: “Referee Mariani’s done a good job keeping the game flowing here!” Yes! Almost as good as a goal! Next up was another group match, Colombia vs DR Congo. Once again, my man’s performance seemed to go unnoticed – which is exactly what every good referee aims for.
Then, this week, a big one. Just like the teams, referees hope to get through the group stage and be picked for the knockout rounds. I was at my local pub watching Brazil vs Japan, and who should turn up as referee but Maurizio? I nearly dropped my pint. I’d been really enjoying a great match. Not anymore. My Italian against 22 Brazilians and Japanese? How was that fair?
Now I could only watch him, tracking his every move. I was pleased to see how calmly he signaled a goal when Japan took the lead. I flinched at every tackle, every foul, every decision he had to make. All good. Then Brazil equalized. Damn! There could be extra time – more chances for something to go wrong, some controversy he might get caught up in. Normally, I’d be rooting for the underdog, Japan. But now I just wanted a goal, any goal, to end it. And I jumped up when Brazil scored right at the death. No extra time. Perfect.
The poor Japanese players and fans cried bitter tears. But I was celebrating. I bought another pint to toast another excellent refereeing performance. And I hope to follow him all the way to the final. I might even knit myself a scarf with his name on it. Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the article Who am I cheering for most at the World Cup A wise and gentle Italian referee Adrian Chiles
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is the wise and gentle Italian referee Adrian Chiles is cheering for
Answer He is cheering for the referee himself an Italian official named Daniele Orsato
2 Why is Adrian Chiles cheering for a referee instead of a team
Answer Because he admires how Orsato referees He thinks Orsato is fair calm and doesnt try to be the star of the show
3 Did Adrian Chiles always feel this way about referees
Answer No He says he used to hate referees but Orsato changed his mind
4 What makes Daniele Orsato different from other referees
Answer He is described as wise and gentle He manages games with a quiet authority and rarely makes controversial decisions
Advanced Questions
5 Does Adrian Chiles actually want Italy to win the World Cup
Answer No He is specifically cheering for the referee to have a great tournament not for the Italian national team to win the trophy
6 What was the specific moment that made Chiles admire Orsato
Answer He recalls a Champions League match where Orsato let play continue after a small foul allowing a beautiful goal to stand Chiles realized the referee had prioritized the spectacle of the game
7 Is this article about a real person or is it a joke
Answer Its about a real person Daniele Orsato is a highly respected Italian referee who officiated at the World Cup Chiles is being sincere though with his usual wry selfdeprecating humor
8 What practical lesson does Chiles take from cheering for Orsato
Answer He suggests that we should sometimes appreciate the people who do a difficult job well without seeking attention Its about finding joy in competence and fairness
9 Does Chiles think this is a common or weird thing to do
