Soccer issue unclear

Press, 25 February 1980, Page 17

Soccer issue unclear

Although It failed with its major remit concerning the running of the Rothmans League, the Canterbury Football Association had some success at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association last week-end. A recommendation put forward by the C.F.A. concerning the problem of whether a player should put his school or his club first w’as passed. However, a remit proposed by the N.Z.F.A. council on the same matter but with a contradictory policy was also passed. This must mean that the solution to this awkward question is still unresolved. The C.F.A. recommendation proposed that each association work out its own policy. It also suggested that a sub-commit-tee of each association be formed to discuss any disputes. The committee should include a representative of the secondary schools, the junior association, and the senior association. The council plan called for each senior association to organise youth grades for players between 16 and 19 and that these grades should cater for both club and school teams. It said that “there should be no coercion or direction of players as to whom they should play for.”

So, on one hand a player can have the final say about whom he prefers to play for and on the other hand a committee can direct him to play for one or other team.