ENGLISH FOOTBALL CROWDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 February 1939, Page 13

ENGLISH FOOTBALL CROWDS

COMMENT BY A BISHOP. LONDON, January 5. Spectators whose language “oversteps the bounds of what may be termed ordinary swearing” and “blots on League soccer” are commented upon in the Liverpool diocesan review, which is edited by the Bishop of Liverpool, Dr. A. A. David. “We sometimes wonder if the sportsmahship on which we pride ourselves is worthy of the name,” says the article, adding, “We have recently been a spectator on the popular side at various matches in the district, both Rugby and Association. What has impressed us as much as the game itself has been the behaviour of the spectators at several matches.” The referee should not be made a scapegoat for the failure of the home team.

“Surely nothing can justify the booing with which a decision against the home side is so often received. Perhaps worst of all is the sustained jeering we have heard when one ol the visiting players is preparing to take a penalty or attempting to convert a try.

“It seems to us that the limit of decent partisanship is often exceeded and that, as a consequence, eood sportsmanship is forgotten." The article adds: “The freqltonej with which soccer players openly question the referee’s decision is a cause of wonder to those who have been taught to accept the umpire’s or referee’s decision without a murmur, even if they believe it to be wrong. “A word from the F.A.. warning players of the consequence of arguing with the referee would do much to remove one of the blots on League soccer. “There are still some among us

who do not unduly worry when the half-times go up. and who can enjoy a match Avithout the haunting fear that the result, will ‘tear” our weekly coupon. “We wonder whether we are in a very small minority and whether, indeed. the pools are responsible for much of the aforesaid trouble.”