Final answer:
The given statement is an example of a simile, comparing the referee's blindness to the visual acuity of a bat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words 'like' or 'as'. In the given statement, the phrase 'as blind as a bat' is comparing the referee's blindness to the visual acuity of a bat. This comparison creates a vivid image in the reader's mind, emphasizing the referee's lack of perception.
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