It started with one bad call.
You know the one. Fourth quarter. Game on the line. The whole stadium is watching the same replay on the big screen, and every single person can see it except the one whose job it is to see it.
Flag. Game over. Seventy thousand fans on their feet with nowhere to put it.
Somewhere in the stands, a few of us looked at each other and said: yelling isn't enough anymore.
They took our whistles.
Try bringing a whistle through the gate. Or an air horn. Or a noisemaker of any kind. Confiscated. Apparently the only people allowed to blow a whistle in that building are the ones blowing the calls.
But nobody ever said you couldn't bring a towel.
So we made one.
Ref stripes, because if they're going to wear them, so are we. A loud yellow flag-splatter, because that's what every bad call looks like from the stands. And a whistle printed dead center, because if we can't bring ours, we'll wave theirs right back at them.
We handed a few out. People started waving them every time a call went sideways. Then the people next to them wanted one. That's how Fans Against Referee Tyranny was born.
What we stand for
We're not against refs. The job is hard, and most calls are right. We're against the ones that aren't. The phantom holding. The missed pass interference. The flag that comes out of nowhere in the final two minutes.
FART is for every fan who has ever watched the replay, looked at the person next to them, and said "come on." No team. No rivalry. Just fans who want the game decided by the players.
When they blow it, wave the flag.
Know before you go: stadium rules
Every venue sets its own rules, but here is what you'll run into at most pro football stadiums under the NFL clear bag policy:
- Bags: One clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12", or a one-gallon clear plastic bag. You can also bring a small clutch or wallet up to 4.5" x 6.5". Non-clear backpacks, belt bags and fanny packs are turned away.
- Signs and banners: Commonly capped at 2' x 3'. No sticks or poles, including selfie sticks.
- Whistles, air horns and noisemakers: Prohibited at most venues. (That's why the towel exists.)
- Umbrellas: Usually prohibited.
- Rally towels: Not on the standard prohibited lists we checked. Wave away.
Rules vary by stadium and event and can change at any time. Always check your venue's official policy before game day.