A HAMPSHIRE grass-roots footballer has been handed a massive fine for setting up a group on social networking site Facebook which criticised a local referee.

And 12 others who posted comments about the match official have also been fined by the Hampshire FA!

Gary Buller – who ironically is also a qualified referee – was given a whopping £125 fine for setting up the discussion group concerning match official Adrian Redding.

That’s a larger fine than the county FA have recently handed out to players who have committed acts of violence on the pitch.

It is also a much larger fine than players who have been found guilty of dissent to a referee’s face during games have been given.

But the Hampshire FA have defended their actions and insist: “It’s not a case of Big Brother watching you.”

Full story in today's Daily Echo