They're often the people who come in for the most abuse in football - mocked when they get decisions wrong and hardly recognised when they get the tough calls right.
In fact, most referees would probably do anything to have a quiet life - so why, two years ago, did Ryan Atkin make the decision to become one of the few people in the men's game to open up about being gay?
He's been speaking frankly and honestly on this brand-new episode of the podcast about why more gay men don't come out in football; about whether he'd referee in places with poor LGBTQ+ rights records; about his new work with Stonewall and the importance of representation ... and who he thinks will win the Premier League.
WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUEST? Twitter: @ryantatkin WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk