WHISKY AT HALF-TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1927, Page 10

WHISKY AT HALF-TIME.

SOCCER PLAYERS' PRACTICE.

DISCUSSION IN WELLINGTON.

1 SAW THE AUCKLAND TEAM."

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. A Thistle player was reported to the Wellington Football Association for ur.aentlemanly conduct on the field when a free kick was awarded against him. Ho wrote apologising to the referee and also to the association. Having heard all the evidence and t'he statement of the player, the executive disqualified him for the remainder of the season. Subequently, the referee who reported the man said lie did not know whether he ought to mention it,

but he was sorry to say some players had the habit of having a flask of whisky on them at half-time. The Chairman: It all depends on how much they take of it. In Auckland I saw the Auckland team have whisky for their men.

Mr. Ward: I saw some here with our own representative team. 1 have seen it doled out to players at the Basin Reserve. The referee said a similar practice prevailed at Duppa Street and he had seen whisky produced at half-time in live or six games this season.

Mr. Ward said the objection was not so much to their taking liquor, so long as they took it at the proper time. Another member said it was doubtful if the committee had jurisdiction over what a player drank, so long as he was not the worse for drink on the field. If liquor was going to interfere with the game and cause trouble to the referee the committee would have t.i put its foot down.

The chairman said there was no question that the Thiss'e C'lub was also to blame for -Rowing the player to take the Held in a condition not fit to play, and he thought the club should be writ•en to, holding them partly responsible for allowing him to plav. Mr. Ay res said the player arrived late on the field and it was probablv not noticed.

The Chairman: In that ease we should ask Thistle for an explanation. It was decided to write accordingly.