REFEREE ABUSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 39, 21 July 1939, Page 5

REFEREE ABUSED

JOSTLED BY PLAYER CENSURE FOR PAR6A CLUB UNION'S STRONG DISAPPROVAL Strong disapproval of the conduct of several Paroa senior players, immediately after their defeat by Taneatua on. the Domain on July Bth, was expressed by the management committee of the Whakatanc Sub-Union at its fortnightly meeting in the Grand Tea Whakatane on Tuesday night. The conduct complained of consisted of abuse hurled at the referee.. Mr A. Boswell. by players who surrounded him. He was alio pushed as he turned to walk away It was unanimously decided to write to the Paroa Club and express the union's deep dissatisfaction over t.ie conduct of Paroa players and supporters, and to issue a strong warn, ing against a repetition. It was stated during the "discussion that had the referee been able to identify the per-* son who jostled him a more severe penalty would have been inflicted. INCIDENT DESCRIBED. The matter was introduced by Mr L. Ormond (Referees) who said that the conduct of players after the match was deserving of the union's censure. Mr Boswell had reported that as soon as the final whistle went Paroa plajers came up to him and told him he could not referee a dog fight and made other remarks. As he was walking away one player pushed him with a closed fist. He could not pick the player. Another player told him he must have had all his money on Taneatua. Mr W. Sisam (Taneatua): There were several spectators in the altercation. They had been barracking the referee. "Mr Boswell says it w r as the skipper of the Paroa team who told him that lie could not referee a dog fight. That is not a good example' said Mr Ormond. ''C. Pile was another who spoke out of turn.''

Mr J. Hohapata (Paroa) detailed several of the referee's rulings which lie considered wrong. NOT DISCUSSING REFEREE. Mr W. S. chairman, pointed out that they were not discussing the actions of the referee but were dealing with the conduct of the players. He was surprised to hear that Pile was in trouble again. He thought that at long last he had learned a lesson. E. Hohapata was a man with much experience In big football and he should not have of fended. Mr J. Hohapata remembered E. Hohapata going to the referee and asking him why he did not pull the game \v!v?n a jiian was hurt. ''The game was all over this happened'' said Mr Ormond. "I wish T had known about if' said Mr Hohapata. Mr J. Conoliy (Whakatane) pointed out that right or wrong the referee must be protected. A beaten team always criticised the control of the game. Mr Henderson: Referees won't take the whistle if this goes on, and with no referees there will be .no football. Mr Hohapat a said that some clubs had no confidence in certain referees.. Mr Henderson said the Referees' Association had confidence in them.

RIDICULOUS REMARKS. The remark about the referee: having money on the game was ridiculous. Mr Boswelj was the type of ma,n that all the money under the sun could not buy, and the same applied to all other local referees. Mr Ormond said that the secretary should write to the club and call them to order for their display, let. ting them know that drastic steps would be taken if the offence was repeated. If the referee hat! known who pushed him that player would probably have gone dut for life. It was equivalent to hitting him; the intention -was there. Tile motion, was carried after Mr Cce (Tancatua) had seconded it, and Mr J. Ifohapat-a was also instructed to convey the union's disapproval to his team.

CASE OF C. MURRAY. Mr Ormond also reported that Chris Murray, a member of the Paroa junior team, had been ordered off by Mr B. Norman for offensive behaviour. Murray, said Mr Ormond, had allegedly questioned the referee's rulings and had been told to be quiet. "He nersi.sted and threatened to black the referee's eyes. He was then sent off. Murray had been sent off before. He should not have been playing junior football.

Mr Ormond moved that Murray ta.rul down for the rest of the season. Mr I. Tunui (Poroporo) seconded this and the motion was carried.