Referees are often tasked with making tough decisions, easily scrutinized immediately by fans when things don’t go their team’s way. In Tampa Bay, one Lightning offered some help – we think.

In this case, a coaches challenge was called after the Carolina Hurricanes disputed whether or not Tyler Johnson was offside after he scored. Forced to review the play, a referee started looking at the call.

Meanwhile, a generous Tampa Bay fan decided to offer their glasses to the officiating crew. It made for quite the hilarious visual.

To be fair to the fan, referees have to review plays on notoriously small screens. Perhaps, wearing a stranger’s glasses would have provided a clearer visual of what happened. Or on the flip side, if they were prescribed for someone with awful vision, they might obstruct the official’s view and change the call, should he wear them.

More likely, however, is the fan was poking fun at the official.

Ultimately, the official didn’t need the assist. It was determined Johnson was onside and the goal counted. It leaves us wondering just how hilarious it would have been if the referee took the eager fan up on his option.

[Fox Sports]

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com