ON SATURDAY, September 8, I was glued to the television and transformed with passionate interest to see the US Open Women’s Finals. It was the big showdown between the young dashing Japanese/Haitian, 20-year-old protégé Noami Osaka and the established tennis champion, Serena Williams, 37.

The modern aristocratic lawn tennis ambience of the Arthur Ashe stadium devolved into controversy in the second set, when Serena was handed a code violation for coaching, had a penalty point for smashing her racquet and docked a game for verbal abuse. All under the condign watch of the Portuguese Umpire Carlos Ramos.

This development sparked immediate global reactions and controversy when Serena alleged that the game official was conducting an assault on motherhood and women by his actions. Beyond the lawn tennis court, this turned into a full blown row and debate over sexism. Was Ms. Williams a victim of sexism? This is hard to prove, especially in light of the fact that the statistics show that lawn tennis US Open Code Violations received by men are at 86 and women at 22. Those who shout sexism in this case, would find it difficult to get pass the argument that it was Ms. Williams’ coach who initiated a reaction by the Chair Umpire by showing signs to his player. Section P (9) of the Grand Slam Rule Book mandates the Chair Umpire to ‘Ensure that the rules are observed by all players and all on-court officials’. Further, it was Serena who smashed her racquet and called the umpire a thief.

Individual actions that warranted adjudication.

It has to be accepted that laws and rules are enforced in different contexts. One has to acknowledge that black Americans have endured centuries of persecution so when you exercise tutelage over them, you have to consider their insecurities. Marginalised groups are suspicious of authority, rightly so. A man who referees a game being played by women has to have it in the back of his mind that they are part of a group that only got the right to vote in 1920. It behooved Umpire Carlos to consider that it was until 1950, that Althea Gibson became the first black American to participate in the US Nationals and in 1956, becoming the first African-American to win a Grand Slam final. Discrimination exists, this is an indisputable fact.

However, at the same time, we must be on guard for those who seek refuge under the argument of discrimination to cover their personal indiscretions. It discredits a movement when people opportunistically scream prejudice to cover their failures. Serena’s body language suggested a frustrated individual who was flabbergasted by the idea of being beaten, 6-2, 6-4, by a 20-year-old opponent who was just a kid when she won her first Grand Slam title. The umpire could have applied discretion but he did not, this is risk you take when you flout the rules.

We must be prepared to tell our heroes and heroines when they are wrong.