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Fight To Have Soccer Star Play In Chch

A move by the Australian Soccer Federation which would block the Scottish soccer star, D. Law, from appearing in the Manchester United team against New Zealand at English Park on Wednesday, May 31, is being bitterly opposed by the Canterbury Football Association.

“We will fight this one to the end and we will make sure that we win it,” said the president of the C.F.A. (Mr J. Smith) yesterday. According to an agency report, Australia is trying to ensure that Law plays for both Manchester United and the Scottish national side during

their coming tours of the country. Law, who cost Manchester £105,000 when he was transferred from an Italian club, is due to play in New Zealand with the United team at the same time as Scotland plays in Australia, said Mr I. A. McAndrew, secretary of the Australian federation, in Sydney.

To enable Law to play in Australia for both teams, the federation has offered to pay all the additional travelling expenses.

Tour Reshuffling Mr McAndrew said that considerable reshuffling of the schedules of both Manchester United and Scotland, and the goodwill of New Zealand officials, would be needed if Law was to play in both teams. Law is due to play with Manchester in New Zealand on May 28 (at Auckland) and 31 (at Christchurch), the dates on which the Scottish team plays in Sydney and Adelaide, respectively.

Since Scotland is due to play in New Zealand (at Wellington and Auckland) after its Australian tour, New Zealand fans would still see Law in action, Mr McAndrew said. Join Scottish Team

Mr McAndrew pointed out that when Manchester United leaves Honolulu on May 25, Law could fly to Australia and join the Scottish team for its three Australian fixtures, go with the team to New Zealand for the Wellington and Auckland matches, on June 5 and 8 respectively, and then return to Australia for the rest of the Manchester team’s tour. The Scottish Football Association, approached with the offer last week, has promised to “explore the possibilities,” said Mr McAndrew. “Perhaps Mr McAndrew could explain to soccer supporters in Canterbury how they would see Law play in Wellington and Auckland,” said Mr Smith. “Does he expect them to travel miles from home when they can have him on their doorstep? And why should

the Canterbury F.A. suffer the loss of such a brilliant player only so that Australia should reap all the benefit? “We will resist this attempt through the N.Z.F.A.,” said Mr Smith. “I know that Auckland will back us to the hilt. We will ask the N.Z.F.A. to reply a definite ‘no’ when Australia makes its request.” Already Australian changes to the schedule for the Manchester United tour have upset New Zealand’s plans. Another disruption was revealed by the vice-chairman of the N.Z.FA., Mr G. L. Whyte, at the week-end. Instead of Manchester United arriving in Auckland on the Saturday evening for its match against Auckland the next day, as planned, the team will now arrive on the Friday because of a change in the schedule of its Australian part of the tour. “This has forced us into extra expense, providing hotel costs for another day for the whole party,” said Mr Whyte.

the Canterbury F.A. suffei the loss of such a brilliant player only so that Australis should reap all the benefit? “We will resist this attempt through the N.Z.F.A.,” saic Mr Smith. “I know that Auckland will back us to ths nr~ .—ill .<,l. xtwti i

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19670509.2.168

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 19

Word Count
590

Fight To Have Soccer Star Play In Chch Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 19

Fight To Have Soccer Star Play In Chch Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 19