A youth soccer referee in Beverly Hills resigned earlier this month over what he says is his own personal disgust with the parents of the children he is refereeing.
In a letter originally posted by a Hollywood gossip blog called The Ankler, 57-year-old former ref Avery Krut told members of the Beverly Hills branch of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) that he would no longer be serving as their referee administrator after the current season.
When it came to listing reasons for his impending departure, Krut minced no words.
"I have come to despise so many of you and I hold so many of you in contempt," he wrote. "Your behavior on the sidelines has, for far too long, been disrespectful and you are damaging the children. You have said nasty things to and about too many Referees and it must come to an end. I can no longer be involved with so many people who feel so entitled. People threatening to write up a Referee because he was wearing a protective boot was the last straw. The behavior on the sidelines has been despicable too often."
The Guardian reports that Krut's letter was not well received by the ASYO board, as regional commissioner Alex Grossman sent out a followup message to parents apologizing for Krut's blunt language.
"While we respect and appreciate all of the years he has given to our region, the views stated in his e-mail are his personal opinions and do not represent the Beverly Hills Region 76 Board," Grossman wrote.
In an interview with the Guardian, Krut defended his actions and said that parents were unleashing their "inner Donald Trump" by yelling at referees. He also said they were teaching their children to engage in horrible behavior toward other people.
