Integrity is one of the most important and often cited of virtue terms. In fact, when used as a virtue term, 'integrity' refers to a quality of a person's character;
The National Association of Sports Officials, based in the USA, believes the duty of sports referees/officials is to act as impartial judges of sport competitions. They believe this duty carries with it an obligation to perform with accuracy, fairness and objectivity through an overriding sense of integrity.
Because of their authority and autonomy, referees must have a high degree of commitment and expertise. NASO, in its directives to its members, believes these facts impose on sports officials the higher ethical standard by which true professionals are judged.
Referees, as stated in the NASO manual, who are "professionals", voluntarily observe a high level of conduct, not because of fear of penalty, but rather out of personal character. They accept responsibility for their actions. This conduct has as its foundation a deep sense of moral values and use of reason which substantiates the belief a given conduct is proper simply because it is.
The Australian Sports Commission, on their part, believes that the duty of the sports referee is to act as an impartial judge of sporting competition and this duty carries with it an obligation for the official to perform with accuracy, consistency, objectivity and the highest sense of integrity.
The reason I am dealing with the topic of integrity in this week's column is due to the fact that this is a very dear characteristic which I value highly. I am really sad when I hear any such accusation being put forward towards any fellow referee and/or towards me, especially if such accusations come from close quarters and from individuals who should know far, far better.
As a referee, I personally (whatever level I am working or am regarded to be part of) try to be as impartial as possible. I can accept all levels of criticisms and insults ranging from the very mild to those heavy ones that demand a 'tough' skin to overcome.
However I definitely do not accept any reference made towards my person of not being impartial, of being biased or of lacking integrity. I have nothing to be ashamed of and thus openly state that these are lies which I cannot tolerate because they can immediately destroy all your past work if others start believing such false, unfounded statements.
From this column, I openly and honestly state here unequivocally that any such allegations, accusations and insinuations are totally without foundation and only a result of immense dreaming.
One cannot ignore the fact that some other sports have suffered the humiliation and embarrassment of corruption in recent years. But local basketball is a sport that, I hope I am right and not being blind, does not lend itself to such dishonesty. Anybody who really knows the game and most of the people involved in it know in their hearts that this is true.
As a referee, just as most of my fellow colleagues I try to enter into a match with thinking that there are no small teams and no big ones. There are no favourites and no outsiders. Both teams practically start every match as equals.
From the outset, as I have frequently stated in past articles, I acknowledge that certain errors may be made in some matches and that these decisions may cause enormous disappointment to the members and fans of the teams involved. However, this also happens in every walk of life and as such has to be regarded as part of the imperfection of sports.
If one has to be really sincere, then he has to acknowledge that as humans, even the best referees officiating at top world level may make errors of judgment when under pressure on the field of play. But one must then be even more convinced that as people of integrity, referees do not make errors of ethical judgment.
Citing an article from www.uefa.com which quoted former FIFA referee Michel Vautrot "It takes a special person to be a referee. These guys are fit as fiddles and have unimpeachable impartiality - they are 20 times better than the referees of my day. People forget they are only human beings, they expect referees to have the integrity of a Supreme Court judge, the agility of an acrobat, the endurance of Job and the imperturbability of Buddha. In truth, no matter how perfect a referee is someone will always complain."
There is growing awareness in sport of the risks posed by corruption and other unethical behaviour, and the public is expecting greater accountability from the sports sector.
With the changing role of sport, abandoning the previous social role, becoming more and more commercial and with the increase in television coverage and corporate sponsorship, sport and sport management have become a perfect breeding ground for corruption.
Corruption in sport is damaging. It is stealing the future of youth, the future of athletes and players and the future of sport.
Upon concluding I want to make it clear that my reference to errors during games was made to highlight the fact that if they occur, they generally are 'honest' mistakes as a referee is fallible just like any other person. Nowhere have I stated that these have occurred in any particular games but the reference was just a general one.
It is without doubt that no referee would ever reach some top level in the refereeing world without complete integrity. It is, as stated above, one of the referee's most fundamental characteristics and honest sport followers and enthusiasts could easily judge if a referee is honest and integral in his actions.
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