If there's one thing that soccer supporters agree on, it's hating on referees. From youth to professional ranks, jeers and taunts are common. Over the weekend, the "ref, you suck" chant was heard in MLS stadiums, and after the Premier League's referees' body admitted Manchester City's lone goal in their 1-0 win over Manchester United shouldn't have stood, vitriol poured from the red half of Manchester.

MLS referee Nick Balcer told ESPN: "I wish people could see the game through our lens. This game continues to get faster... Refereeing is an art form." Officials work as hard as players, covering about 6.2 miles per MLS match while making split-second decisions.

Referees like Lorenzo Hernandez found a path into soccer through officiating. Inspired by his father, he started at 13 or 14 for side cash. Balcer got certified at 12, earning $60 for three hours on a Saturday. Both dealt with angry parents. A 2017 survey found over 75% of high school referees quit due to adult behavior, and 80% of new officials stopped after two years. Balcer learned to let comments roll "like water off a duck's back."

Support from older referees is invaluable. Hernandez said the starting salary for full-time MLS referees is $85,000, plus benefits like healthcare.