Kes
I'll Decide ...
However a referee (unlike a player) IS:
a) vulnerable - Really? Explain how he is more vulnerable than any player who has been assaulted please.
b) an authority figure (this is enough to p*ss some people off) - Irrelevant in the context of the thread.
c) is the person who has just taken £25 out of a player's pocket (and he is standing YARDS AWAY) - No he hasn't. I've never personally taken £25 out of any individual player's pocket, and neither I suspect, have you.
THEREFORE, to protect the referee, harsher punishments exist for referee assault as opposed to player assault. Were this not the case any player sent off might as well punch the ref as well (Why not eh?).
There is a reason almost EVERY sport in the world will dish out a lifetime ban for referee assault. Possibly, but what has that got to do with a football referee abandoning a match?
But they are wrong and you are right.
I feel like I'm arguing with a child or girlfriend who cannot understand logic.
I wonder if you are just playing devil's advocate. If so you play well.
I think Padfoot's analogy doesn't really hold up in that sense either, but not for the bizarre and overly dramatic reasons you give above.