Whistleblowers: Captains Bemoan Lack of Sunday League Referees

Despite the £265 entry fee, organisers are failing to provide referees for the Sunday League

In an era where football is often overshadowed by online outrage over refereeing decisions, the University’s Sunday League faces its own refereeing controversy. As opposed to the Premier League, it’s not poor decisions, but a lack of referees to blow the whistle at all.

Sunday League teams pay the Athletic Union £265 per semester to take part in the competition, with ‘all matches officiated’, a promise made on the Saints Sport website. This semester, this has largely gone unmet. The vast majority of games have reportedly been played without a referee, leading to complaints from captains and protests over results.

Matches on Sunday are meant to be officiated by players from the University’s football club, with each team covering one set of fixtures per semester. The system is organised by the Football Club Vice-President, Dylan Ellins, with players expected to take on refereeing duties.

Last year, Director of Football Stuart Milne reminded players that “refereeing is a small responsibility — only once or twice per semester at most — yet it is crucial for the smooth running of matches.” A £10 fine was introduced for no-shows, doubling if unpaid after a fortnight. The Football Club Vice-President has since confirmed that this fine system is no longer in place. Referees who cannot make their assigned match are simply told to find replacements, but without penalties, many simply don’t show.

“Without a referee, decisions — instead of being objective — are based on who shouts the loudest,” Matteo Veratelli, captain of Inter Sundays FC, told The Saint. “There is never anyone officially keeping time, meaning matches overrun.” The lack of oversight has also disrupted scheduling and the overall running of the league.

“I don’t think we’ve had one game this semester with a football club referee,” said Chris Black, captain of Strokers. “The timekeeping has ruined a couple of games for us, too.”

Spartans’ vice-captain Nakul Gupta said only one of his side’s matches had a referee this semester. “He did his job for the first half, then decided to play for the other team after half-time,” Gupta said. Spartans lost the game 6-5 to Beavers in a result that has summed up the holders’ season. “It is shameful that this was allowed to happen, especially because both sides agreed on what happened,” he added.

With entry fees set and collected by the Athletic Union, responsibility for resolving the issue lies with them. Each match costs teams close to £40, making the league a significant expense for many students. 

“If it were free, I wouldn’t be bothered, but we pay £265 a semester as a team,” BLFC captain Patrick Maitland said. 

“People used to make a lot of noise about the lack of refs, but I think we’ve all given up hope now,” Maitland, now a fourth-year, has become well accustomed to playing matches without officials. 

The absence of referees has cast a cloud over what has otherwise been a compelling Sunday League season. Without the basic administration of organising an impartial official, the competition will struggle to be taken seriously. 

Image taken from Saints Sport Website