I had my ref's badge for a couple of years - only actually reffed a few inter-university games when I was injured and couldn't play (I was a goalkeeper and twice broke fingers, six in all!).

I agree with Zippity. I only once sent a bloke off for that - his team was getting hammered, but he insisted on moaning that the sixth or seventh goal was offside. I tried explaining to him that the scorer got the ball in his own half, but he told me "Go f*** yourself".

Mind you - one game I was in goal in a ***** promotion game. 2-2 in the last minute and our centre half went to clear a cross. The ball skewed off his boot and shot up and hit the top of his arm. Ref gave a pen (this was pre-VAR and in those days the handball rule said it had to be "hand to ball").
Our bloke just looked at the ref and said "You are f***ing joking mate". Off he went.

I saved the pen and we won the league and promotion. Which was nice!