As the crowd waited for the restart, Ezra drifted over to Leo, both of them watching Adebayo being steered toward the touchline by two teammates, a staff member and then the fourth official.
Adebayo was still talking, arms moving, head shaking, the frustration pouring out of him even as the decision had already been made.
"Man's still going," Ezra muttered under his breath while Leo stood there now with a detached expression on his face.
A while later, the referee broke away from the officials and walked straight toward him, stopping close enough that he could hear what he was saying over the lively crowd.
"Be careful," the referee said, low and measured.
"You aren't without fault," he continued, to which Leo nodded once.
"I hear you, mister"
The referee stared at Leo after his words before shaking his head and taking a few steps back.
After that, he grabbed the ball, setting it up for a drop ball before the whistle came through.
