SOCCER BAN IN AUST.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30108, 17 April 1963, Page 17

SOCCER BAN IN AUST.

Rous Advises N.Z. Body

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. April 16.

A ‘ personal opinion" that the international ban on Australian soccer does not apply to amateur plavers or schoolboy teams has been expressed by Sir Stanley Rous, president of the International Federation, in ■ letter to the New Zealand Football Association.

Sir Stanley Rous says he can see no reason why a New Zealand schoolboy team should not visit Australia, nor does he think an amateur player from Australia should be prevented from playing in New Zealand if he can produce a clearance from his Australian club. In his letter, tabled at the N.Z.F.A. council meeting tonight, Sir Stanley Rous emphasised that these were his personal opinions. An official ruling would not be available until after April 24. He also said that F.I.F.A. had set up a technical committee to examine ways and means of assisting in the development of soccer in various countries.

"Your request for assistance to arrange matches with overseas teams, referees, lecturers and coaches will be examined and, I hope, sympathetically considered by that committee when it meets in May.”