FRENCH LEAGUE TEAM WARNED

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27663, 20 May 1955, Page 13

FRENCH LEAGUE TEAM WARNED

“Clean Up Football Or Go Home” (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. The sale of tickets for the second Rugby League test between France and Australia in Brisbane will be suspended pending a study of the tactics by the touring French team in their match against South Australia at Adelaide last night. The Australian Board of Control chairman, Mr Harry Flegg, threatened this today and bluntly told the French team: “Clean up your football or go home.” Mr Flegg described the Frenchmen as a brilliant team which at times was “very dirty.” In the Adelaide match, a 17-stone French forward, Guy Delaye, was sent off with a local player, Tony Brain. Delaye was alleged to have punched the referee, Mr A. Burns, and to have spat at him after the match. Delaye claimed he had been bitten on one hand. Brain said the Frenchmen went mad, punching, mauling, kneeing, and kicking* Another local player, Ron Hanson, went down “covered in blood.” Mr Flegg said today that Delaye’s display was disgraceful. “If Delaye had done in Sydney what he did last night, there would have been a riot.” “We are going to insist on clean football,added. “The board of control is very solid on this question and the sale of second test tickets must be held up until we see what develops.” (Tickets for the first test in Sydney on June 11 have been sold out.) ♦ Brain today said: “Last night’s match was the dirtiest I’ve ever played in. The Frenchmen went mad. After every tackle they would come back punching, mauling, and kicking. Delaye and another chap in the second row were kneeing un into our faces all the time and kicking. “When I saw my mate, Ron Hanson, 6o down with his face covered in lood, It was on. The referee cautioned Delaye for the incident, Delaye then kneed me in the face and I saw red.* The referee said: “After the game. Brain came up to me near the dress-ing-room and shook hands. Then De- > laye approached me and I halfextended my hand. Instead of shaking it, he gave me a back-hander across , the mouth.” The French team’s manager (Mr. , Antoine Blaine) said that the referee j in Adelaide had little idea of how the game should be played. “Twenty-four penalty kicks were awarded against the French team and only two against South Australia. That speaks for itself,” said Mr Blaine. It was not true that the Frenchmen had played rough football or that Delaye had struck Brain. Delaye himself had a split lio and at least 17 punch marks on his face.