Battered Aust, side caneels

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 24

Battered Aust, side caneels

SY DM A . Austraiia's World ( Un soccer team lias decided 'to cancel its warm-up match against the \ i>it ing English third division team. Bristol Rovers, tiller a scrappy match against ITuguay lon Saturday. The Australian soccer .coach (Mr R. Rastci has insisted the game be cancelled after several injuries ‘suffered in the game against ; Uruguay He said the team's next match would be against I Indonesia on the way to the I World Cup finals. The Australian Soccer Federation accented the Bristol Rovers fixture * m<time ago. Bristol Revis will probably play a New South Wales state team. Karate blow? A doctor said yesterday that the Australian centreforward, R. Baart/, who is n hospital, hall-paralysed alter being struck in the game against Uruguay, may have been struck a karate blow sometimes used to kill. Dr B. Corrigan, the Australian team doctor, said Baart / was unlikely to plav in the World Cup finals in Munich. “There is no doubt it is a major injury, and yesterday his vision was partly affected and he also suffered facial paraly sis.” he said. Ihe mam problem would be to ensure that Baartz's blood circulation could return to normal, with therapy also needed to correct weakness of his arm and leg.