SOCCER REPLACEMENT RULE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 18

SOCCER REPLACEMENT RULE

Critics of Recent Decision REQUEST TO BE MADE TO ENGLISH TEAM “It was disappointing to read, that the council has decided to allow replacements only up to half-time, stated a letter read at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Football Association last night from Mr. H. Woodhead, secretary of the Otago Football Association. “I understood at the annual meeting,” the letter continued, “that the replacement rule would be operative either for the whole game or at least till within 15 minutes of the finish, and this was the idea I conveyed to my committee. As the rule now stands it appears to be more open to abuse than if it operated over the whole game. It would also appear that if it is fair to replace in the first half it is equally fair to replace in the second half. The council will realise that it is quite possible for a man to be severely injured very early in the second half when perhaps two good teams are playing and no goal has been scored by either team. If no replacement is allowed, then one team is at a decided disadvantage. “My committee hopes that the council will reconsider the decision and advise at an early date so that our clubs may be informed accordingly. After all, the public must be considered if the game is to go ahead, and as they pay to see eleven men play eleven men, we feel that they are entitled to do 60.” Referring to the replacement rule, a letter from the New Zealand Referees’ Association stated: —“It is with sincere regret we learn of the decision of your association in adopting measures which amend law 1 in the rules given by the International Board, and the members of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, while adopting the amendment, are emphatic in their protests at the parent association’s action.” Mr. Campbell: I quite agree with Otago in this matter. We intend to ask the English team to allow replacements for the whole of the time, and I think they will agree. Not everyone agrees as to the wisdom of replacements, and it may therefore be politic to have replacements in club games only up to the start of the second spell. It is a reasonable compromise. The secretary was instructed to inform Otago accordingly. The letter from the referee?’ association was received. Mr. J. A. Milburn presided, and there were also present: Messrs. F. Campbell, W. D. Wilson, P. McKenzie, H. H. A. Renai, B. Martin, H. L. Godber, J. Y. Walls, W. G. Bryce and E. C. Hollis. Reference was made to the death of Mr. W. S. Walls, a brother of Mr. J. Y. Walls, and an enthusiastic supporter of the Association code over, a long period. Members stood a moment in silence as a mark of respect. The Wairarapa Football Association forwarded the names of R. Bell (centreforward), A. Bell (right-back) and G. Longworth (outside-right) to be given a trial for places in the Wel-lington-Manawatu-Watrarapa match against the Englishmen. The secretary (Mr. A. Williams) said he had sent the names on to the Wellington association. Westland’s Protest. The Westland Football Association wrote again protesting against the South Island final of the Chatham Cup being played in Canterbury and Otago in alternate years. “If my association are going to be out of this discussion with Canterbury-Otago,” the letter stated, “they will not enter for the Chatham Cup. The chairman: We’re only abiding by the decision of the annual meeting. The matter was referred to the competitions committee. The chairman reported that in Order to assist Mr. P. Neesham, the New Zealand selector, an effort was 'being made to arrange at an early date an F.A. trophy match between Wellington and Canterbury and a J. E. Jones Cup match between Canterbury and Otago. Members were agreed it was desirable for the selector to see as many South Island players as possible, and the possibilities of a trial game at Christchurch arc to be investigated.