Villagers in Charfield, South Gloucestershire, say they have been ordered to remove new goalposts, bought by the community.
Local mother of three, Olivia Dibden said: "The money that we raised was donated kindly and generously by over 27 families within the village."
But days after the goalposts were put up on a public green space, close to housing on Underhill Road, residents said they were ordered to remove them within seven days.
South Gloucestershire Council said it had a duty of care to ensure all play equipment on public open spaces was "appropriately installed and maintained".
Residents said the letter stated: "If the encroaching material remains in situ, the council will remove the items and dispose of them."
Olivia Dibden said: "It was heart-breaking. The letter was entitled 'fly-tipping', which angered quite a lot of people."
