Old Feller wrote:
Maybe we've been given Child as a form of handicap?
Seriously, his problem is has apparent inability to develop any form of rapport with the players.
He gives the impression that he thinks he's somehow better than them.
He talks down to them, not to them.
Pretty much. The job of the referee should be to work with the players to enforce the laws in a way that makes the game both better to watch and to play in.
Some games you won't be able to do that, because sometimes players don't want to work with you for whatever reason. Too much adrenaline or emotion, unable to cope with pressure etc.
The problem with Child is that every game seems to be one of those where he can't get players to work with him, mostly because his communication is limited to only when absolutely necessary.
Listen to the likes of Thaler, Ian Smith when he used to ref, even Bentham sometimes. They'll have a little laugh and a joke with players during breaks in play, smile at a player when he tries it on pleading his case. Child does none of that, he's like some sort of humourless drone.
It always feels like it's him versus the players, rather than them being there for the same reason.
