INTERCHANGE OF REFEREES URGED

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31731, 15 July 1968, Page 17

INTERCHANGE OF REFEREES URGED

f.v.Z. Press Association) TIMARU. The Southern League Committee will make an appeal to all soccer referees* associations in its area to encourage the interchange of referees. This was decided at a meeting of the committee in Dunedin at the week-end. The decision to approach the individual referees’ associations stems from criticisms of refereeing standards in some centres. The league will send a strong letter of protest to the New Zealand Football Association at the lack of recognition given to regional league games. The southern league has been dogged by postponements, some: caused by the weather and others because players were; out of their club teams to play in other competitions. At present. according to N.Z.F.A. advice. regional leagues come seventh in the list of priorities, after international games, the Chatham Cup. the Junior National Cup. the F.A. Trophy, the Brown Shield. Peter Dawson Cup or Flyger Rosebowl, and representative games against overseas teams. If teams have three or more players playing in any of these competitions or games, they can have their southern league fixtures postponed. The committee felt it should have priority after international games and the Chatham Cup. The league has also introduced a rule limiting the postponement of fixtures to cases where players are out of their own team only to play in the higher game or where they ♦are reserves. Players acting -as officials will not be given dispensation. There will not be another poll on the promotion-relega-

tion issue in the southern league because it is too late in the season. The first annual meeting of the league will be held in Timaru on October 12, and the subject could be discussed at this meeting. The league has reaffirmed that games under its jurisdiction will be played with one ball only. Some associations have used three balls to speed up play when the match ball has gone out of play. International rules state that the ball must not be changed unless authorised by the referee. and the southern league interprets this as meaning the ball that is used to start the game will be the only ball used ■ unless it becomes unuseable.