Multi-racial plan mooted

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33515, 22 April 1974, Page 22

Multi-racial plan mooted

N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) CAPE TOWN.

A multi-racial South African national soccer team is to be announced next week in the hope that Australia will play it on the way back from the World Cup final.

Mr D. Marais, president of the South African Football (Association, said yesterday I that the team would be (chosen after the present (round of games between (teams representing the various racial groups in South Africa, which ends in Johan-

nesburg today. The team is (to be announced next week. I “I am optimistic about a (favourable reply from Australia,” Mr Marais said. “We (shall then ask F.1.F.A., the (world body, for special disjpensation to allow the match to be played.” South Africa is under suspension from F.l.F.A,,.and the planned multi-racial game is seen as a possible way back into the world arena. “If we can persuade Australia to play us here, then I shall invite three executive members of F.I.F.A. to visit South Africa to see the game and then ask them to investigate the progress made in South Africa towards bring-

sdng closer relationships in .‘black and white soccer,” Mr i Marais said. His association would send - both Black and white repre- > sentatives to the F.I.F.A. con- - gress in Frankfurt on June 15. t The two white sides — one South African-born and the - other “Continental” — have i dominated the “multi-racial” j tournament, but Mr Marias ; said that any South African squad must favour as many - blacks as it did whites. • “We are off the ground > floor and rising to the posit tion where we can be opii- > mistic about soccer relation- ■ ships between black and i white in South Africa,” Mr ■ Marais said.

n! However, it was reported Jr jfrom Sydney yesterday that Australia will not be able :o >. accept the invitation. >- The Australian Soccer Fedj. eration secretary (Mr B. le e Fevre) said: “We would have e liked to have accepted, and e we would have but for an " agreement we have with our is clubs here that immediately n we are eliminated from the y World Cup all players must return to Australia to comd plete the national season.” i- Mr le Fevre said that an i- Australian national team i- might play South Africa in diOctober or November, subSri ject to F.I.F.A. approval, as part of a world tour.