Referees have tough jobs. They have to be experts on the rulebooks and make difficult, on-the-spot decisions and interpretations. And what do they get for their efforts? Well, if they do a good job, they get no recognition whatsoever. If they do a bad job, however, they become utterly despited and the targets of vitriolic obscenities.Then, as if to add insult to injury, some guy comes a long and does a whole list of hilarious referees GIFs, basically making fun of them and dwelling on their shortcomings.

So, like I said, it’s a tough job. But somebody’s got to do it.

Oh, and yes, I am that guy doing the list of funny referee GIFs. What can I say? It’s too much fun.

Enjoy!

See, how can we not make referees when they do stuff like this? It’s just too ridiculous. Poor bastard.

This ref should have known that these sumo wrestlers are faster than they look.

On an unrelated note, how awesome would it be if sumo refs wore black and white striped kimonos?

The expression goes, “keep your eye on the ball,” not “keep your eyes on the ball.” The reason? You’re supposed to keep one of your eyes on your surroundings…unlike this guy.

I’m pretty sure this is from Jackass, though I don’t know if it’s the TV show or one of the movies. Not that it really matters.

Nobody in Chicago has any love for Jay Cutler. Not even the referees, apparently.

I’m sure the refs must have been doing a poor job, but still, you can’t just have the whole team attack them. That being said, those bright orange shirts are pretty obnoxious.

I’m not sure if anyone is to blame for this one…but let’s go ahead and blame the referee. That’s what they’re there for, right?

Is this guy drunk?

The best part of this one is the reaction of the fans. It’s like their team just scored a last second goal to tie the game.

Former German international Michael Ballack really wants to talk to this guy, but he isn’t having it.

A head butt from a 250 pound football player wearing a helmet? I bet this guy didn’t know his own name after this one.

Seeing this guy get hit in the head would be funny enough, but then he adds the dramatic fall onto the cheerleaders. I guess the ball knocked out his equilibrium.

The Vanderbilt linebackers started the tackle, but the referee finished the job. So that’s why the SEC is so tough.

I guess this mascot took his anger at LeBron James out on this poor, unsuspecting referee. And man, he really clobbers him—the dude goes down hard.

There’s no way this guy is for real, right? It’s got to be some kind of practical joke—maybe an episode of Candid Camera or Just for Laughs. Either way, this dude is amaaaazing.

This right here says everything that needs to be said about the NFL’s ridiculously embarrassing run with replacement referees. In fact, let’s take one more look…

“OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT THING!…Oh, my bad.”

Were Donald Rumslfeld and Dick Cheney advising this soccer referee, too? I know this guy is trying to avoid a larger conflict, but is this preemptive strike really necessary?

A mistake, or a crime of opportunity? Only Cal Cluttebuck knows for sure.

In the WWE, even the referees’ moves are choreographed.

If this happened to me, I would have just turned my back and walked right out of the ring. Knees to the ribs? Fine. Elbows to the face? Whatever. But gentle pats on my junk? No way, absolutely not.