[ldrndll]

As someone who grew up watching rugby and only got into football as an adult, I couldn't believe the amount of disrespect players show to officials. I think I spent the first two years constantly saying "in rugby this guy would have been sent off by now" on repeat...

[NoOneNew]

I only discovered rugby a few years ago. I was completely floored. Players apologizing? Players being the first ones to admit making a mistake? Players making sure opposing hurt players are okay? What in the fuck am I watching? Who made it okay for mature, respectable adults to play a televised sport? Why haven't they been fired yet? Dont they know what planet this is?

[megameter]

When the players are respectful that's when you know it's a combat sport.

[LargeWu]

Same, as an American sports fan. Touching an official or yelling at them in any sort of aggressive manner is almost always an automatic foul or penalty, and possibly grounds for ejection.

My only thought as somebody who never played soccer is that the decisions a soccer referee makes are much more consequential, and oftentimes very subjective. A single call in soccer can change a game in a way that doesn't happen in any other sport.

[cycomanic]

I don't think it is true that referee calls in soccer are more consequential than in e.g. rugby. In fact I would argue that in rugby a referee could make very subtle calls (that would likely not be picked up by many fans even) that can very substantially change a game, e.g. just how he referees the breakdown or scrums. Let's not even talk about giving or not giving a try etc..