Comment: Refereeing online gamesmanship

General Optical Council chiefs and International rugby referees have a hard job keeping their, sometimes unruly, charges in line. For the majority there is honour - they know what is allowed and they get on with the game. However, cultures and rules vary and there are players who are not averse to using that uncertainty, bending the rules or indulging in a little off the ball action when the ref's back is turned.

There are few topics as guaranteed to get optical professionals agitated as online retailing. While the regulatory heat is on most players will behave themselves, but when the ref turns his back the eye gouging and dump tackling begin. Sure enough after a quiet period it looked like the game had settled down, but an optical equivalent of Schalk Burger has emerged to stir it all up again (see news).