FOOTBALL AND POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 February 1929, Page 6

FOOTBALL AND POLITICS.

How greatly the vogue of football has grown abroad (hiring the present century, and especially since the war, may be observed by all who have travelled on the Continent of Europe, in spring or summer during the. last quarter of a century, but the, full extent of its importance is still not generally realised (says the "Times"). Its popularity, of course, is nothing like so widespread a> in England, though there are. for instance, ovi-r a hundred eiubs in Prague and over a thousand in Portugal; and very large crowds watch the international matches which are frequently played in almost every capital. Xo appearance of. say. Frenchmen in Germany or of Czechs in Austria can be wholly devoid of political meaning to the onlookers. International polities are very deeply rooted in the mind of the average European. Ami football itself, in the memory of many, was a suspected occupation. In Prussian and" Russian Poland, for instance, it was long prohibited: ;it Lodz teams composed of English residents played in defiance of official orders, and became, so to speak, standard bearers of freedom. In Hamidian Turkey beginnings were still more difficult, and matches are still remembered where gendarmes interfered to separate the players. Those days happily are pa&t, and Association football has indeed come into its own on the Continent, and is played in as sportsmanlike a spirit as any man could wish to see. Moreover, international matches began to be played soon after the "war between teams of countries that could hardly meet on any other terms, and undoubtedly they did much to foster a friendlier outlook on either side. In so far as England has been the creator of modern football it may indeed be proud of its export. But a little more importance is still given to the underlying international rivalry by other spectators than by British. And if English or Scottish teams themselves touring on the Continent are continually beaten, there is also perhaps a tendency to jump to the conclusion that the race which produced them imtst be decadent. British players are popular attractions; they are. in fact, in great demand at the time when the British football season is ending and the Continental one beginning. The British players, a little stale, perhaps, after a gruelling series, of competitive matches, and in holiday mood, are not up to their best form, and have to lower their oolours to teams less skilful but full of fresh vigour and of keenness to show their prowess. English sailors, too. land at every port, and, so it is reported, often get soundly trounced by the j local champions. Xo great harm is done. The game's the thing. But not long ago a British Consul in a Latin country did think it worth while, when he heard a British tour was beniir planned, to write to the Foreign Office to say that local talent was of a very high order and it might be as well for the Football Association to bear this in mind when selecting its tourists. Naturally , the Foreign Office passed on the letter. And the Football Association is evidently of the same mind as the British Consul; for when there was a question the other day of sending a team to Germany it explained that arrangements had already been made to send so many touring sides elsewhere that it would not be possible this season to choose a team that would do justice either to British reputation or to German standards. The decision was simple common sense; and a representative team will, it is hoped, visit Germany Ijiext year.