Dear Agatha

Some years back, in a game I was playing, one of the opposing forwards punched the ball into our goal.  I was the goalkeeper for our team at the time, and was extremely annoyed and complained bitterly because the referee awarded the goal.  To add insult to injury, the ref then sent me off.  Knowing that the player had cheated and got away with it, I refused to pay the fine on principle.  I was subsequently banned sine die. 

Well,  last weekend I was asked to play in a representative match, and I couldn't believe my eyes, as it was the same ref who sent me off all those years ago.  We got to chatting, and he asked me if I ever paid that fine.  When I said no, he sent me off before the kickoff!  He can't do that can he?

Yours peevishly
ME Muggins

If you were that referee, could you send the player off under these
circumstances?


Dear Muggins

Actually he cannot send you off under these circumstances.  He should have allowed you to play.  He was not to know if your ban had been rescinded or revised.  Who knows, some kind Samaritan may have paid your fine!  However, he should still have reported you to the appropriate authority which will undoubtedly have slapped on another fine if your ban remained in force.

Yours sniggeringly

Agatha