WITH the present-day game of football to a great extent being controlled more and more by money and survival of the fittest, with each game and each point fought for tooth and nail, it is important that the referees controlling the matches are up to the required standard.

Many of the games are clouded in controversy. Of course, the rival fans support the decisions given for their teams.

To those people the referee is always wrong. Maybe there would be more understanding if they had viewed the rugby league game between Bradford Bulls and Huddersfield/Sheffield on TV.

Although the game was played with passion and ferocity, the official controlled it with the help of the players.

He stood for no nonsense, and his comments to offending culprits were clearly heard on TV.

Many thousands of viewers heard how he interpreted his decisions and few could have argued with them.

For a game to be credible, it has got to be fully understood by officials, players and fans alike.

Mr Presley, the referee, had a magnificent game and stamped his knowledge and influence on it. If only some of our football refs did the same.

K SOWERBUTTS, Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.