From address omitted (It's from TheRef - OK?)

To address omitted (It's none of your business)

January 21, 2001
____,

I’m not sure who I should be writing to, but since you know me, I thought I’d write to you, and you can forward this to whomever should receive it.

I’m writing about the referee the ____________ had on Friday, January 19 in ____________. As you may have heard, things got out-of-hand, which resulted in several altercations, including one fight at the end of the game.

I’m aware that _________________ has already sent in a letter for the team. Therefore, I’m writing strictly for myself, and the issues I feel are specific to me, as a player and goalkeeper.

I’m writing because this is the second time altercations have erupted between two teams, and the second time this referee refused to take any action to calm down the proceedings. In both occasions the referee allowed hard contact with myself, with the ball - the first time I was hurt and left the game (I later returned as a field player), the second he allowed a man more than a foot taller to make verbal threats; later this man attacked another of my teammates, throwing him down to the turf and assaulting him. Had this referee taken decisive action, I believe the situations would have been diffused, and the game proceeded as normal.

____, I know you’re already aware of this, but the position of goalkeeper is dangerous enough as it is, without people crashing into you and making deliberately dangerous plays. I’m aware that during a game emotions run high, and people can make poor decisions, but I’ve also seen the other referees at [this facility] pull offenders away, lecture the do’s and don’ts, and end the situation. I can honestly say, that whenever I’ve endured dangerous or needless contact, every referee at [this facility] has dealt with the situation professionally and effectively, and there has never been a repeat of the behavior after the game...

...except for this referee. Over the occasions our team has had him referee, he has displayed a pattern of incompetence, and, I cannot stress this enough, that I do not feel safe with this man refereeing.

What I need from [this facility] is assurances that this man will take proper control of the games he is supposed to be in charge of. I very much enjoy playing at [this facility], but should I not receive these assurances, and he referees another game I’m playing in, I will inform him, and on-site [management], that I will not take the field. Simply put, I will not endanger myself further.

I hope you understand my position. I don’t take this lightly, but I feel it’s absolutely necessary. I’ll be mailing a hard copy to you, just in case the internet plays one of its tricks and fails to deliver this letter.

Best regards,

[TheRef - before he became a referee, mind you]