Football ref gets death threat

Football referee Gert den Tuinder from Hoogvliet, was handed a mourning announcement card and a picture of a coffin on Saturday in the parking lot in Bodegraven, Zuid Holland, just prior to the match Rohda 76 against Hermandad. The card stated he had to see to it that Rohda 76 won or he would leave the field "between 6 boards".

A 14-year-old boy handed the referee the card and ran away. He has not yet been found. The 43-year-old Den Tuinder man still refereed the match, but filed a police report afterwards. "I have experienced a lot during my time as a referee, but this takes the cake," said Den Tuinder. The referee received police protection after the game, and he says he is not planning on going back on the field anytime soon. Rohda 76 won the game by a score of 2-1, but, "not because I wanted them to," said the referee, who is still in a constant state of alert, suspicious of anyone he does not know.