There's an interesting piece here that may explain a few things about referees.
Psychologists Uncover It's the Referees, Not the Players, Who Might Secure Soccer World Cup Victory*|*Dr Raj Persaud
The following are extracts that I found of most relevance to Stanley:
Psychological research demonstrates crowd influence, or noise, could contribute to the famous 'home advantage' in sports, by influencing referees' decision making….One of the most recent scientific investigations of referees being influenced by crowds is a study entitled, Improved training of football referees and the decline in home advantage post-World War 2, uncovering evidence that referee training appears crucial in resisting crowd influence.
The study, recently published in the journal, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, found a new decline in 'Home Advantage' in a number of professional soccer leagues in the UK, since World War 2. The authors of the study, Alan Nevill, Tom Webb and Adam Watts, uncovered the sharpest decline in Home Advantage was observed in matches attended by smaller crowds.
The steepest rate of lessening in soccer 'Home Advantage' over the last few decades was observed in Division 2, ..…smaller crowds attending matches in the lower divisions, appear to have less influence on the referees' decision to favour the home side.
Where are those b****y drums when you need them?