--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't applaud a referee." description: "\"You can't applaud a referee.\" — Alex Ferguson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png" --- # You can't applaud a referee. ![“You can't applaud a referee.” quote by Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png) > “You can't applaud a referee.” [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Applauding a referee is inappropriate because officials should remain impartial and not be praised for decisions. **In simple terms:** Do not praise officials for their calls. Key Takeaway Maintain respect for impartial authority. Themes sportsmanship authority fair play professionalism Mood critical reflective Type sports ethical When to use this quote - sports events - team meetings - referee training - public commentary - online forums Key Concepts ethics organizational behavior leadership Questions to Reflect On - When is it acceptable to acknowledge officials? - Does praise affect impartiality? A Different Perspective Some may view applause as encouragement for good performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [Pardew has come out and criticized me. He is the worst at haranguing referees. He shoves them and makes a joke of it. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/pardew-has-come-out-and-criticized-me-he-is-the-worst-at-haranguing/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [“The human element tells you a referee can be wrong. But the good ones will make the correct decisions more often than not. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-human-element-tells-you-a-referee-can-be-wrong-but-the-good-ones/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-pace-of-the-game-demanded-a-referee-who-was-fit-it-is-an/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Someone told me that a person who cannot applaud a friend for her success or genuinely smile for a friends happiness is in hell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sannica/someone-told-me-that-a-person-who-cannot-applaud-a-friend-for-her/) [Sannica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sannica/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Reality shows have a lot to answer for. They applaud mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/reality-shows-have-a-lot-to-answer-for-they-applaud-mediocrity/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [When 20,000 people applaud you as you walk out to do your job, it should be an inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brosnan/when-20-000-people-applaud-you-as-you-walk-out-to-do-your-job-it/) [Jim Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brosnan/) > [There has never been an age that did not applaud the past and lament the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-eichler-watson/there-has-never-been-an-age-that-did-not-applaud-the-past-and-lament/) Lilian Eichler Watson > [“pleased to observe, that you submit to reason and necessity without indulging useless complaint. I applaud this conduct exceedingly, the more, perhaps, since it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-parsons/pleased-to-observe-that-you-submit-to-reason-and-necessity-without/) [Eliza Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-parsons/) > [I applaud Women in Film - not only for celebrating the successes of women, but for providing a safety network to mentor women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-applaud-women-in-film-not-only-for-celebrating-the-successes-of/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I salute you for your courage, and I applaud your perseverance, and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-salute-you-for-your-courage-and-i-applaud-your-perseverance-and-i/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Applaud to those who withstand the shards of compromise. May laurel leaves sit on your head, and life-long pride be yours for the taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/popo-santos/applaud-to-those-who-withstand-the-shards-of-compromise-may-laurel/) Popo Santos > [We uniformly applaud what is right and condemn what is wrong, when it costs us nothing but the sentiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-uniformly-applaud-what-is-right-and-condemn-what-is-wrong-when-it/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“It would be a shame if you didn't applaud the photographer when you saw a beautiful photo; but you should applaud not only him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-would-be-a-shame-if-you-didn-t-applaud-the-photographer-when-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Alex Ferguson > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The lads really ran their socks into the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-lads-really-ran-their-socks-into-the-ground/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/sometimes-you-look-in-a-field-and-you-see-a-cow-and-you-think-it-s-a/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/if-i-have-my-health-i-can-carry-on-there-will-be-a-point-when-i-do/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [I'm-A-God-Look-At-Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-m-a-god-look-at-me/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [If my parents were still alive, they would be very proud. They gave me a good start in life, the values that have driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/if-my-parents-were-still-alive-they-would-be-very-proud-they-gave-me/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [As with every young player these days, Ronaldo is 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/as-with-every-young-player-these-days-ronaldo-is-18/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [I've got a temper if I need it. Nothing wrong with losing your temper, if it's for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-ve-got-a-temper-if-i-need-it-nothing-wrong-with-losing-your-temper/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The credit to them, the better team won and there's nothing we can do about that now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/the-credit-to-them-the-better-team-won-and-there-s-nothing-we-can-do/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/it-was-the-most-emphatic-display-of-selflessness-i-have-seen-on-a/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Her Majesty said she hoped I would have time for my horses - I own two and have shares in four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/her-majesty-said-she-hoped-i-would-have-time-for-my-horses-i-own-two/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [To not apologize for the behavior of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It's a disgrace, but I don't expect Wenger to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/to-not-apologize-for-the-behavior-of-the-players-to-another-manager/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [We have to try to beat Everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/we-have-to-try-to-beat-everyone/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [Funnily enough we have never had one enquiry for Paul Scholes. You know why? Because they all know he will never leave. in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/funnily-enough-we-have-never-had-one-enquiry-for-paul-scholes-you/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [You are responsible to each other because when you win a game of football, you only need eight players to perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-are-responsible-to-each-other-because-when-you-win-a-game-of/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) [Explore all 149 Alex Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) ## More Applaud quotes > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Reality shows have a lot to answer for. They applaud mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/reality-shows-have-a-lot-to-answer-for-they-applaud-mediocrity/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I salute you for your courage, and I applaud your perseverance, and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-salute-you-for-your-courage-and-i-applaud-your-perseverance-and-i/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Someone told me that a person who cannot applaud a friend for her success or genuinely smile for a friends happiness is in hell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sannica/someone-told-me-that-a-person-who-cannot-applaud-a-friend-for-her/) [Sannica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sannica/) > [We uniformly applaud what is right and condemn what is wrong, when it costs us nothing but the sentiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-uniformly-applaud-what-is-right-and-condemn-what-is-wrong-when-it/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Applaud to those who withstand the shards of compromise. May laurel leaves sit on your head, and life-long pride be yours for the taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/popo-santos/applaud-to-those-who-withstand-the-shards-of-compromise-may-laurel/) Popo Santos > [“It would be a shame if you didn't applaud the photographer when you saw a beautiful photo; but you should applaud not only him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-would-be-a-shame-if-you-didn-t-applaud-the-photographer-when-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I applaud Women in Film - not only for celebrating the successes of women, but for providing a safety network to mentor women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-applaud-women-in-film-not-only-for-celebrating-the-successes-of/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [“pleased to observe, that you submit to reason and necessity without indulging useless complaint. I applaud this conduct exceedingly, the more, perhaps, since it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-parsons/pleased-to-observe-that-you-submit-to-reason-and-necessity-without/) [Eliza Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-parsons/) > [There has never been an age that did not applaud the past and lament the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-eichler-watson/there-has-never-been-an-age-that-did-not-applaud-the-past-and-lament/) Lilian Eichler Watson > [When 20,000 people applaud you as you walk out to do your job, it should be an inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brosnan/when-20-000-people-applaud-you-as-you-walk-out-to-do-your-job-it/) [Jim Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brosnan/) > [The populace may hiss me, but when I go home and think of my money, I applaud myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-populace-may-hiss-me-but-when-i-go-home-and-think-of-my-money-i/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Applaud all forward progress. Research shows that encouragement, support, and recognition of success are far more effective than offering “help” when your goal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-orlov/applaud-all-forward-progress-research-shows-that-encouragement/) [Melissa Orlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-orlov/) > [When we see a hero, on the one hand, we applaud them; on the other hand, there is something in a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-we-see-a-hero-on-the-one-hand-we-applaud-them-on-the-other-hand/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) Browse all 118 Applaud quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't applaud a referee.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Ferguson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-can-t-applaud-a-referee/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Applaud" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-can-t-applaud-a-referee/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/alex-ferguson-2811_applaud_you-can-t-applaud-a-referee-1285967_1285967.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't applaud a referee.” — Alex Ferguson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Ferguson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't applaud a referee.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-can-t-applaud-a-referee/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-can-t-applaud-a-referee/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```