You've always suspected, but now there's proof

Tipsy referee sent off in Swedish game
17 January 2006

STOCKHOLM: An assistant referee was sent off from a Swedish third division ice hockey game over the weekend after the players began to suspect he was drunk.

During the contest between Sveg IK and Halsingegardens AIK one of the two assistant referees started behaving increasingly erratically and, smelling alcohol on his breath, the players became suspicious.

"The longer the match went on, the more he started to fall over and hold on to the boards, dropping his whistle and making contradictory signals," Sveg trainer Hakan Nilsson told Reuters yesterday.

"Some of the signs don't even exist in hockey. They looked more like he was doing the doggy paddle."

After the second period, the two teams had had enough and together with the referee took the linesman to the locker room for the final period.

The third period of the game, which Sveg won 6-3, was played with the remaining two referees.