SOCCER PLAYERS SUSPENDED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28362, 22 August 1957, Page 9

SOCCER PLAYERS SUSPENDED

Hungarians In Austrian Team

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 21. T. Szalai and I. Mathesz, two leading players for the Austrian Fussball Klub soccer team which recently toured New Zealand, are under suspension from the Hungarian Football Association, the New Zealand Football Association has been officially informed. These two players, both of whom played in New Zealand in test matches, are barred until April 21, 1958, from playing any “official, competition, practice, or friendly matches,” according to a Letter from the International Federation of Football Associations: the controlling body of world soccer. ;

The pair are two of the 17 Hungarian footballers suspended by the Hungarian Football Association after the Hungarian revolution. The 17 players were members of the Hungarian junior international team, which was touring the Continent when the revolt broke out. None Returned

None elected to return to Hungary after the revolution. Mr 0. Wilkins, liaison officer with the F.K. Austria team while it toured New Zealand, told the New Zealand Football Association tonight. Szalai and Mathesz signed up with F.K. Austria.

The suspensions imposed by the Hungarian Football Association, for which no reasons were given in the letter from, the international federation, are of varying terms.

Ferenc Puskas, who led the team, is out till October 21, 1958. Puskas was the regular captain of Hungary, including the side which won the 1952 Olympic Games competition. He has been called “the greatest player in the world.”

If the attitude of the New Zealand Football Association tonight is any indication, the “deserters” are not expected to miss any football.