Referees In Trouble

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 15

Referees In Trouble

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON. British soccer referees are in trouble again, and the whole question of their status in the game is under review, the Associated Press reports. Mounted police moved in to break up hundreds of angry teen-agers at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London on Friday when they chased the referee, Mr R. Spittle. Mr Spittle ordered a penalty retaken after the Chelsea goal-keeper, P. O’Neill, had

saved from the Blackpool centre-forward, R. Charnley. At the second attempt the shot went in, Chelsea lost 0-2, and Mr Spittle was in trouble. At the end of the match he made a dive through a special exit as Chelsea fans pursued him. In the North of England on the same day, the referee, Mr I. Robinson, was in trouble with the crowd when he i awarded a penalty against » the home side. Police escort--1 ed him from the field. i British soccer referees are e amateur. They work during the week and turn out on a i- Saturday or week-day for a fee a of about £B. j The retiring age limit for

British referees is 47. This eliminates many top soccer players from moving on into the job. Unlike British boxing referees, who are reckoned among the best in the world, British soccer referees are usually rated as among the worst, the Associated Press said. Soccer experts in Britain have long been advocating that the tough referee’s job should be made professional, with a decent wage. They argue that in the highpaid world of modern soccer, no amateur referee can command the respect from players or fans that his important position should demand.