Attention everyone, you are no longer allowed to support Breast Cancer Awareness. That is, if you happen to be a member of the Pacific Northwest Football Officials Association.

A group of football referees calling games at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, WA have been suspended from reffing two high-paying playoff games for using pink whistles at a Breast Cancer Awareness football game. Colored whistles violate the uniform protocol for these officials, who all agreed to use the pink whistles despite any consequences. The officials also agreed to donate their paychecks from that game to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

While the PNFCA may find it unacceptable to break the most miniscule rule, I find it unacceptable that they are opposed to referees supporting a bigger cause. These officials are doing all that they can to spread breast cancer awareness and give to finding a cure. Now, the referees will have three less paychecks to live on, one being the donation, and two being the playoff games they have been suspended from.

“A lot of the guys in the association have been touched by breast cancer in some way,” Jeff Mattson, referee, told MyNorthwest.com.

I’ve never been one to stand up for referees, but this just seems like a huge slap in the face to the officials who have been inadvertently hurt by this disease. Does the color of a whistle affect the call a ref makes in any way? I honestly do not see any problem here.

“It sends the wrong message to kids that are playing the game,” Todd Stordahl, chair of the Washington Officials Association, said. “If they broke the rules, why can’t I do the same”.

Since when has spreading awareness of a disease that took the lives of 39,840 women this year been the wrong message? If anything, it sends kids the right message: stand up for something you truly believe in, and stand by it no matter how bogus the rules may be.