RELIEVED OF FLAG

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 22

RELIEVED OF FLAG

An incident probably without precedent in Auckland occurred at Onehunga last Saturday, when a refereu ordered a vline umpire to hand his flag to another official (reports the "Auckland Star"). The incident took place in the senior game between Manukau Rovers and Marist Old Boys, which was controlled by Mr. A. E. Austin. In the second half the Marist line umpire got off-side with the crowd, which consisted largely of Manukau supporters, and on one occasion, when he ruled that a Manukau player had put his foot over the line, there was prolonged hooting from a section of the spectators. The referee then directed that the flag should be handed to somebody else, and not until this had been done did the game continue. ,

Mr. Austin stated after the match that a referee had the right to appoint any line umpire that he wished, and that he had acted as he had done because he was of the opinion that the linesman had given a bad decision. He mentioned also that earlier in the game the same linesman had given a decision that he had been doubtful about. The Marist supporters and players were indignant at the referee's decision, several of the players contending that from the position he occupied in the field it was not possible for the referee to see whether the player with the ball had put his foot over the line.