[kiwiref]

I agree that the referees at WC overall did a very, very good job.

I don't know if this was Dave's intention, but it sounds to me like he is saying that poor refereeing is indeed the cause of the spectator's complaining. Sport is an emotional affair, and by that also irrational to an extent. Some, or even many, will complain about officials if their team loses, even if the officiating was not controversial. The level and intensity of *****ing and moaning is more to do with the level of the competition and the importance of the game, than the actual quality of refereeing.