ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 267, 7 August 1929, Page 8

ASSOCIATION

By

“GOALIE"

SHOULD REFEREES WEAR SPECTACLES?

RULE THAT REQUIRES MODIFICATION

The local final of the Chatham Cup was disappointing from a football point of view, for there was only one team in it, anil m the last 15 minutes it really developed into a fiasco. The Y.M.C.A. forwards just played with the Institute defence. There are manv who would have liked to have seen Institute through to the provincial rounds, for ■ they have had little ol the honour and glory of the game, and it would have been more to them to win through than to Y.M.C.A.. who have lulu pretty well all the honours going at one time or another. Y.M.C.A. seem to he on a par witli one or two of the professional teams in England. They do well in Cup’ games lint will have to battle hard yet to avoid relegation. If two teams went down instead of one they would have a hard job to avoid it. Y.M.C.A. have remodelled their team of late, and the changes have been all to tlie good. They have produced results, and for that reason I think in the remaining games in the championship Y.M.C.A. will do well enough to get out of tlie relegation area. Lack and Rigby were outstanding in the Y.M. attack, and Ward was the best of the halves. The defence was good, but not up to the standard of that against Petone. Dickinson failed for Institute at centre forward, and does not convince many that lie is likely yet to roach a standard that entitles him to consideration as a representative centre-for-ward. Tlie wingers were the best of the forward line, of whom Smith came nearest to scoring. Tlie defenders did fairly well in the first spell, but in the last half-hour the pace was more than they could keep up with. It was an innocent looking piece of news that was sent out a fortnight ago when the council of the New Zealand Football Association, in reply to a request from tlie New Zealand Referees’ Association, gave a ruling on the subject of whether or -Hot referees should wear spectacles. Relying on the rules of the English Football Association on matters of principle, the council quoted the Football Association rule governing the conduct, etc., of referees, which precludes referees from officiating if wearing spectacles “on the field.” One would have expected the matter to end there and that the Referees’ Associations would have acted upon it, the language being plain enough. Not so, however. Recently, it will be remembered, a Wellington representative team played Auckland for the Football Association trophy. Mr. A. E. Parkinson, of Auckland, was appointed referee for the match, the appointment reaching Auckland from the New Zealand Referees’ Association through the council. The Auckland Association promptly discovered a mare’s nest, evidently having been informed that Mr. Parkinson wore glasses. Off they went to the telegraph office, and the same day the council received the inquiry. “What is position Parkinson, who wears glasses, Saturday’s, match, in view of your decision just advised?” The New Zealand Referees’ Association, accepting the telegraphed statement as a fact, replied nominating Mr. Bowie to take the game, but when the news was published the fat was in the fire again. The Auckland Referees’ Association was up in arms, and from the brief fact stated in their telegram to the council their action at least was justified. They wired, “Strongly protest removal A. Parkinson. Does not wear glasses on field.” The Appointments Board did the only thing possible—reinstated Mr. Parkinson, and he refereed the game. .Had the Auckland Football Association made one simple inquiry their telegram would never have been sent, for there would have been no necessity to do so. In any case it was soon righted. Was that the end of it? Not quite. “Riotous” Indignation.

An enthusiastic but uninformed Auckland writer announced the “death knell of bespectacled referees,” and wrote of “fetishly applying rules built up to deal with a commercialised professional concern,” and proceeded to describe the action of the New Zealand Council as “a monument of myopic bungling.” Whether that writer’s explosion of wrath was dictated purely by the decision of the council and before Mr. Parkinson was temporarily displaced, or was brought to n liead bv the substitution, he is a long way wide of the mark when he refers to 'the rules of the Football Association as "built up to deal with a commercialised, professional concern.” These rules are followed by the New Zealand Council and every other association affiliated to tlie F.A. ' Our Auckland writer apparently has little knowledge of the F.A. or he would know that that body controls 750.000 amateur players as against 5000 professional players. Therefore, it is hardly necessary to point out that these rules must be such that they can be applied to the amateur game as played in New Zealand or any other country. The rule by which the New Zealand Council stands is a fair and reasonable one. although perhaps its application might have been modified in the direction of dealing with special eases on their merits. The conditions under which the Wellington-Auckland game was played nt Blandford Park were such that to expect the best from anyone forced to depend upon spectne’.es to complete his vision was impossible. In important games the referee runs the risk ot collision with players, or of being struck by the ball, breaking his glasses and rendering him unable to carry on with the game, which would then have to be abandoned, possibly involving considerable expense in bringing tlie teams together again. Tlie rule really needs no justification. although in a country with such a small population as New Zealand, and a definitely limited number of referees available to take charge of games, there is something to be said for dealing xyith cases on their merits. To say that "the council interpreted th? rule in such a way that disqualified the appointed referee” is contrary to fact, as is shown in the telegrams mentioned above. He was not disqualified, and was only temporar-

ily displaced because the local organisation did not trouble to ascertain whether Mr. Parkinson wore glasses on or oft the field or both. The Long Bow. Another statement also Is extravagant in its language when it says that the council’s decision "will bring to a climax the question that has threatened the existence of the Soccer code in Auckland.” It is a long stretch of imagination to say that the troubles which have been experienced with one particular elub and witli referees lias threatened the existence of tlie game there, for the remainder of the clubs supported the action of its association. They carried on “business as usual,” and if it is the incident with the Thistle Club that is hinted at as tending towards disintegration, the fact that this club has returned to the fold and the opposition organisation has ceased to exist is sufficient answer to such criticism. It would at least have strengthened the critic’s argument had he named "at least half a dozen very valuable assistants who occupy a key position, and whose places it may be impossible to fill.” Possibly there are one or two referees in Auckland who wear glasses on the field, and if they are first-class men their cases should be treated as exceptions, which are said to exist with every rule. Referees Concerned. As a matter of fact the decision is giving the New Zealand Referees' Association some concern,' and also the Wellington Asscciation, where it has raised something in the nature of a hornets' nest, for the latter body has three able referees who wear glasses all or part of the time. Tlie pres mt position may create difficulties in the ranks if the three referees in question refuse to take any important matches — senior games and Cup ties—owing to the rule, so that the sooner the New Zealaud council meets and moderates its operation the better. Members of the New Zealaud Council were of that opinion at the meeting last week, but so many others were absent that any action was held over. Aud there the matter stands at the moment so far as the New Zealand Council is concerned. But It is surely far-fetched to state that the position Is “a monument ot myopic bungling.” Not too Rigid. Since the meeting of the council the Wellington referees have met, and according to the statement ot their representative to that body there are six bespectacled referees in Wellington who unfortuuately come within the scope of the ruling, firstclass officials, all of whom are “on the bank” until the rule is mended or ended. The action taken by the W.F.A. seems to offer the best solution, and so far as New Zealand Is concerned the English law ou this point should not be like the “laws ot the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.” The rule Is quite a good one, but In the circumstances as they exist In New Zealand is a little too watertight, and the Now Zealand Council might well place limitations upon it by restricting it to important representative matches, provincial gamey and cup finals, exempting local associations’ competitions from its operation. The matter is so adversely affecting the Wellington Association that the sooner the New Zealand Council reaches a decision Iu the matter the better it will be. The local games should be exempted from the rule for the time being, and the council should also apply to the English Football Association for leave to use discretion in the application of the rule. The whole question could then be dealt with on its merits. -Not in Other Games.

There is no such proviso regarding officials or players wearing spectacles In the rules of the Rugby Union, tennis, hockey or cricket, and soccer seems to be the only sport in which the wearing of glasses is a disqualification. The noted cricketer. J. N. Crawford, who played in the Australian tests and in New Zealand, wore glasses, aud the wearing of glasses when playing cricket, or even hockey, seems infinitely more dangerous than in soccer. Seatoun Club.

It was rather surprising to hear the other day that Grimstone, of Seatoun, has been relegated from Senior B team to Junior - A after his performance of last season. Wilson has been promoted from Junior A to Senior B, and as a left-winger is a youth of promise, and Tomkins, who has been similarly promoted, has also the makings of a classical player. Hamilton, to whose weakness for hanging on to the ball reference was made last week, has been transferred to Junior A. It is hojied he will put a check on this weakness, which is also a weakness to the team. Newton, right-back, is quite a youngster, and tim selector should keep an eye on him. Parkin, goalie, transferred from a lower grade last year, is making good progress, and jils work between the sticks is excellent. ■ Seatoun’s Senior B team are a remarkably young lot of players, five being eligible for third grade so far as years are concerned. If this team is kept together and is coached by an old player they will be doing very well in a few years, and should become one of the leading clubs.

A very hard and fast game was witnessed last Saturday on the Basin Reserve when Institute Junior B met Miramar Rangers in a championship game and defeated them by 3 goals to 2. The Institute scored their first goal a few minutes after the whistle sounded by a smart series of short passes, and sending in a stinger that gave the goalie no chance of stopping. This set the Rangers going aud for some time gave the “’Stute” goalie a very warm time, but it was not until after the “ ’Stute" forwards had netted a second goal that the Rangers set to work, but, trv as thev would, it seemed impossible to’find the net. Half-time resulting in the postion being 2—o In Institute’s favour. Rangers then settled down in earnest and gave the spectators an exhibition of some real advanced football, the ball travelling from end to end in a manner that kept the referee verv busy. From a throw-in and a nice pass by Edwards. Barclay, playing centre-half, look the ball well up-field, and with a strong long shot found the net. Playing a great gamp they again found the* net after some very pretty work by Edwards, who played a fine heady throughout, the score now being - -■ From now on the game was very fast, ami Phillins. Institute’s full-back, had a njJ, time to keep Mawson in cheek, and had Mawson been given more work the final result mighj have been different. Inst - tute passed up from the wing into the centre and again scored a few minutes Imfore the final whistle, making the 1—" The Institute boys played good foot1..,n and also had any luck that was shout. Miramar, although defeat rf were ™ means disgraced, and are quite in their place nt top of the Championshipd R Tim "’State” bovs should feel proud nr >Tein- the first team to have beaten the Rancors in a championship game for the last two years.

Senior A Division. P. w. L. D. F. A. Pt. Diamonds .. 10 8 0 2!) 14 IB 1‘etone . Hospital ... 10 ... 12 6 2 4 3 11 29 14 13 Waterside .. 11 4 — 12 Marist ... 10 4 4 Institute ... 10 2 5 ;; 18 20 7 Thistle ... 11 41 6 3 15 18 Y.M.C.A. ... 10 3 6 1 24 24 7