BURRIDGE AFC defender Paul Dyke is angry over comments made by a referee towards him during a parks football manager.

The referee, Mark Rayment, is alleged to have shouted to Dyke "oi ginger, shut-up" during a game, which Dyke believes is a racist slur.

The Hampshire Football Association are investigating the issue.

Here is what Paul Dyke has to say in a letter to the Daily Echo and the Hampshire FA: I HAVE been playing Sunday and Saturday football now at various standards for approximately 20 years. Last season I played Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and afternoon and this season I am running a men's side in the Southampton Sunday morning league, as well as playing in senior one on Saturday afternoons for Burridge AFC.

"I have read in the papers over the past year how referees are fed up with the abuse that they receive during some games and how refereeing numbers are falling due to abuse and I am 100% behind any action taken against a player (at any level) who verbally or physically abuses a referee, as at the end of the day without them the game would not take place.

My complaint is that it seems that some referees have a chip on their shoulder and use the game to simply make themselves feel manly, big and clever.

They seem to go into games immediately on the defensive and dismiss players, it seems, as fools.

For me this has been highlighted by my last two Saturday afternoon fixtures in senior one (which is considered a reasonable level).

In both matches when you questioned a decision you were met with blunt 'go away'. When you then questioned/ appealed next time round the referee would call you over and tell you to 'shut up'. Meanwhile I, as an intelligent man, am trying to get my point across without shouting, without swearing and they are simply ignoring you and not even answering you even though they called you over.

If you question three of four decisions they threaten to book you. No how can you be booked for appealing and simply questioning a decision? If they wanted to shut you up, simply talk to the player with an element of people skills.

I fully understand it if I was swearing or abusive then they would have every right to ignore my rant but otherwise it simply exuberates the matter.

If you are booked you are not allowed to appeal against bookings so the referee knows there is no come back to them.

If a reasonable person is ignored they simply get more angry, more frustrated and this leads towards you thinking that the only way the referee will actually answer you is if you get his attention by swearing.

No 'people skills' seem to be used and it is as though they believe they own hype that they are the ones being picked on.

If they talked to the players on their level, listened and responded accordingly to some appeals during the match this eases the built up frustration.

We all accept it that being a referee is a very hard job but if you feel a decision is incorrect and you question it, if the referee explained that 'in his opinion' this/that happened then this is hard to argue against as it is an opinion and at least he has not simply shouted 'shut up 5'.

The lowest point to date, and what has pushed me to write this letter, came on Saturday 23rd December 2006 when I played against Bishopstoke away in a Senior one league game.

The referee appointed to this game continually told players to 'shut up' and handle players with contempt and with an uncompromising manner.

This was highlighted when after approximately 70 minutes I was running up for a corner, having just appealed for an offside at my end, when the referee shouted from 35 yards across the field 'OI GINGER SHUT UP'.

Now luckily I am not an angry man but what gives him the right to:- 1. Verbally abuse me; and 2. Use my hair colour as an insult.

I have a number on my back that he has been looking at for the whole game. If I was black and he shouted out 'oi nigger shut up' this would be racism.

Do not get me wrong, I am an easy target for players on a pitch with my hair colour used as an insult and I enjoy the banter that surrounds a game of football as much as the next player - but referees are different in that they should not be allowed to abuse and discriminate against players on any level.

What would have happened if I had taken exception to this and called him 'a bald, short idiot'. I rightfully would have been sent off - so what is the difference?

I would therefore like to request - no demand, that this referee be reprimanded, as rightfully any player would be who verbally insulted a referee.

I have had to referee a game for my Sunday side this year, as we had not been allocated a referee, so I do appreciate that it is a hard job. I tried to explain my decisions if the player had a real moan and one even, after a rant, apologised after I explained my point. Do not get me wrong most referees will have a laugh and a joke with you and over the course of the years I am recognised by many referees who will laugh and joke with me before, during and after the game (this I believe breeds respect). But there is a larger percentage that go out with the mentality that they are better than the players which is not good for the game as a whole.

These types of referees will lead to more frustration being taken out on referees and other players which is bad news for the game ahead and its enjoyment by players, fans and referees alike.

PAUL DYKE, Sholing.