--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never comment on referees and I'm not…" description: "\"I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.\" — Ron Atkinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ron-atkinson-8807_afl_i-never-comment-on-referees-and-i-m-not_1044921.jpg" --- # I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the… ![“I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.” quote by Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ron-atkinson-8807_afl_i-never-comment-on-referees-and-i-m-not_1044921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ron-atkinson-8807_afl_i-never-comment-on-referees-and-i-m-not_1044921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ron-atkinson-8807_afl_i-never-comment-on-referees-and-i-m-not_1044921.jpg) > “I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.” [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He refuses to criticize referees, valuing long‑standing personal principles over short‑term controversy. **In simple terms:** Sticks to personal code despite pressure. Key Takeaway Maintain integrity over fleeting opinions. Themes integrity principles sportsmanship Mood defiant steady Type advice statement When to use this quote - coaching - team leadership - media interactions Key Concepts personal ethics professional conduct Questions to Reflect On - Is it worth preserving a habit if it hinders constructive dialogue? - When should personal codes be re‑examined? A Different Perspective May limit honest feedback that could improve officiating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afl/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Footy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-soccer/) [Funny sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-sports/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Rugby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rugby/) [Sportsmanship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sportsmanship/) [Stupid sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-sports/) ## Related quotes > [If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-venables/if-history-repeats-itself-i-should-think-we-can-expect-the-same-thing/) [Terry Venables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-venables/) > [Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-acfield/strangely-in-slow-motion-replay-the-ball-seemed-to-hang-in-the-air/) David Acfield > [If a player wants to out himself, then I say good luck. 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It had always been our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pavlich/right-was-not-how-i-would-describe-the-afl-s-decision-to-play-our/) Matthew Pavlich ## More by Ron Atkinson > [I'm going to make a prediction - it could go either way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/i-m-going-to-make-a-prediction-it-could-go-either-way/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Our fans have been branded with the same brush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/our-fans-have-been-branded-with-the-same-brush/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Now Manchester United are 2-1 down on aggregate, they are in a better position than when they started the game at 1-1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/now-manchester-united-are-2-1-down-on-aggregate-they-are-in-a-better/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Moreano thought that the full back was gonna come up behind and give him one really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/moreano-thought-that-the-full-back-was-gonna-come-up-behind-and-give/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [There's nobody fitter at his age, except maybe Raquel Welch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/there-s-nobody-fitter-at-his-age-except-maybe-raquel-welch/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/the-spaniards-have-been-reduced-to-aiming-aimless-balls-into-the-box/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Their forward got a lucky squeeze from the defender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/their-forward-got-a-lucky-squeeze-from-the-defender/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [You half fancied that to go in as it was rising and dipping at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/you-half-fancied-that-to-go-in-as-it-was-rising-and-dipping-at-the/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [They are playing above the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/they-are-playing-above-the-ground/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Scholes is very influential for England at international level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/scholes-is-very-influential-for-england-at-international-level/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [I would not say he (David Ginola) is the best left-winger in the Premiership, but there are none better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/i-would-not-say-he-david-ginola-is-the-best-left-winger-in-the/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Huddersfield will want to win this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/huddersfield-will-want-to-win-this-one/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Stoichkov's playing on the wing, in this situation he likes to come in and scalp the centre-half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/stoichkov-s-playing-on-the-wing-in-this-situation-he-likes-to-come-in/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [Scholes and Van Nistelrooy drugged the last two defenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/scholes-and-van-nistelrooy-drugged-the-last-two-defenders/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [He'll take some pleasure from that, Brian Carey. 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He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-layden/i-told-him-son-what-is-it-with-you-is-it-ignorance-or-apathy-he-said/) [Frank Layden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-layden/) > [When I graduated from college I didn't want to play in the AFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-garcia/when-i-graduated-from-college-i-didn-t-want-to-play-in-the-afl/) [Jeff Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-garcia/) > [Bill Frindall has done a bit of mental arithmetic with a calculator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arlott/bill-frindall-has-done-a-bit-of-mental-arithmetic-with-a-calculator/) [John Arlott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arlott/) > [Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-acfield/strangely-in-slow-motion-replay-the-ball-seemed-to-hang-in-the-air/) David Acfield > [I spent the nights before the Jets' two biggest games last year - for the AFL championship and the Super Bowl - with girls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-namath/i-spent-the-nights-before-the-jets-two-biggest-games-last-year-for/) [Joe Namath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-namath/) > [Andy Ellis - the 21 year old, who turned 22 a few weeks ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-mexted/andy-ellis-the-21-year-old-who-turned-22-a-few-weeks-ago/) [Murray Mexted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-mexted/) > [The companies move labor to the lowest-cost markets. 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