Neutral referees to cost $70 a game

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33034, 29 September 1972, Page 20

Neutral referees to cost $70 a game

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

Clubs in the Rothmans National Soccer League wanting neutral referees for their away fixtures next season will have to pay $7O a match.

The New Zealand Referees’ Association’s delegate to the National League Committee, Mr T. J. Ward, said that the clubs will consider the change of policy at the annual meeting in Wellington in November.

After the response from clubs has been ascertained, the N.Z.R.A. would formulate its national league refereeing list. Mr Ward said.

For all 18 rounds of the championship, the visiting team would have to pay $7O a match if it wanted the match to be controlled by a referee from other than the host association. Otherwise, a referee from the host association would officiate, Mr Ward said. The $7O would include the cost for hotel accommodation, air travel, meals and out-of-pocket expenses. This season, the clubs paid $l5O each. A part was used to pay for a referees’ training course and neutral referees were used in the second round.

Mr Ward said that in spite of the widespread criticism of refereeing in national league matches this season, there had been only one official

complaint to the appointment board of the N.Z.R.A.

This was made by Wellington City after its away match against Gisborne City. “They said the refereeing in this gartie was hot up to standard, but we looked into the matter and found there was no reason to take the referee off the national league list or take any action against him,” Mr Ward said. He added that the referees would continue to maintain an authoritative attitude rather than what clubs might think was an arrogant attitude. Two of this season’s officials, Messrs E. Saker (Hawke’s Bay) and J; Den ley (South Canterbury), have retired from national league refereeing.