SOCCER FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 162, 10 July 1926, Page 27

SOCCER FOOTBALL

NOTES ON THE GAME.

The changed conditions which have come over the Soccer code by the amending of the off-side rule may bring in its wake other radical changes. One of these may be the replacement of injured players. The Auckland Association has of late brought this question prominently before the sporting public, and that its is not the only voice in the wilderness has alreadj been demonstrated. A furthei testimony for replacement 1 ■* been given the "Athletic News" by the famous Birmingham half-back, George Liddell, who writes as follows: — "It is generally agreed, according to opinions given in the 'Athletic News, ,- that the new off-side law has been beneficial to the game. As a player, may I voice an opinion? I think that the recent state of affairs is satisfactory, except when one side has been unfortunate in the matter of injuries. "Suppose, for example, a player has been hurt during a game and his services are no longer available. Under the old off-side law it was possible for the i..jured player'i side to overcome their handicap by the adoption of what was called the 'one-back' game. Under present conditions, to rely upon a similar resort is practically impossible, and the consequence is many games have been won and lost through players being injured. Birmingham alone ha 3 lost four games this season when winning goals in each case have been added after players have left the field hurt. "From personal experience I should say that should a law be passed granting the introduction of substitues for injured players, the player would gladly welcome it, and so should the onlooker, tor, after all, a victory i s not a victory m the true sporting sense when it ha's been achieved over a depleted and unfortunate team."