The Game

A soccer referee needs to be everywhere, see everything, and stay on the ball for the full 90 minutes. Every decision comes under close scrutiny—from commentators, from players contesting each whistle blow as if it were an unforgivable injustice, and from that multi-headed monster: the crowd. And besides dealing with the constant, intense pressure, you’ve got to be able to cover around 7 miles over the course of the match.

The Game follows a top-tier Swiss match through the eyes of world-class ref Fedayi San. The ball doesn’t appear onscreen even once. All the more time, then, for the doubts about violations, the impact of chanting fans, nervous discussions with the video assistant, stewards getting instructions on how to deal with fireworks, the childish behavior of divas who need to be corrected in a variety of languages, and a brief discussion with the linesmen at half-time. A soccer match like you’ve never seen before.