SOCCER REFEREES AND GLASSES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 11

SOCCER REFEREES AND GLASSES

PROTEST AT ENGLISH RULE “Bespectacled referees” was a topic raised at the meeting of the Wellington Eootball Association Management Committee last night, when Mr. T. Plant mentioned it on behalf of the Wellington Referees’ Association. Mr. Plant said there were six first? class referees who were being held off by reason of the decision against the wearing of glasses. In England the referees were paid from ss. to £5 55., but referees were amateurs in New Zealand. The Referees’ Association wanted permission from the parent body in England to waive the objections in New Zealand. The New Zealand Council could not do so, for if a club made a protest on the ground that the referee was wearing spectacles, the New Zealand Council must allow it. If it did not the club could appeal to the English Football Association. The English rule is that referees and linesmen shall not officiate when wearing glasses on the field. The chairman (Mr. W. B. Hicks) referred to the experience at Auckland, where the conditions were such that a referee wearing glasses would have been at a serious disadvantage. He agreed that finals and important provincial games should not be taken bj’ referees wearing glasses. The view was taken that the New Zealand Council should be asked to waive the rule so far as matches coming under the jurisdiction of the W.F.A. were concerned, and it was agreed to do this. At the same time, it was decided to ask the Council if it could not take steps to have New Zealand exempted from the rule.