FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

L .'■■\ The Wednesday Trades Union matches will '•.:■/, be continued this afternoon. "'.;•, On Saturday next Auckland Rugby Union t '".'■■'.•. teams will play Waikato (at Epsom) and > ■;«'■'■■■■, Thames (at Thames). >' .. The Auckland City Football Club repre- ; : , sentatives play their second match in Syd- : i- ney this afternoon, meeting the University ■ Club teatm On Saturday they meet the • v Globe Club's team, which was leading in the premiership 'competition when the last Hvd- , - iter mail left. The- annual balance-sheet of the English Rugby Union shows that the profits on-last season's international inatclioh amounted to £1988 12* 6d. Towards this the match ■ against the New Zealand 'team at the Crystal Palace contributed £1030 -13s lid. The institution of a Seddon shield for competition among the Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, and Culler Unions/representatives has been agreed upon, ami the initial, round, will be played toward.* the .- ■ end of the'present reason. * The Wellington representative team this Season boasts a strong back division, Hie . members embracing (lie "All Blacks" Wal- ■ ' lace, Thomson, McGregor, and Roberts. In , the match against Wairarapa recently the Wellington backs gave a brilliant exhibition of attacking play, the four players mentioned standing out prominently, while a younger, brother of Thomson's "played we'll behind the pack (half-back). • Christchiirch referees are strictly enforcing . the penalty for players lying on the ball. The .Sydney Arrow writer "Gulliver"' /'-, says that the difference between New Zealand and. New South Wales representative -,'. form in gradually being bridged, and the '•; day will _ probably-, corns' when New South, Wales will equal the Maorilanders on Australian fields. -. ■ . AN ENGLISH SENSATION. / Tito report of the special commission— Messrs. .1. C. Clegs, C. Crump, and D. U. Wool fa 11— appointed by the Football Association, to Inquire into the procedure of the f; Manchester City Club was, issued yesterday (says tho Daily Mai! of Juno 1). ;• As was generally expected the document is a very V serious nutter indeed for Manchester City. Many of its best players, besides being heavily lined, are suspended until the beginning of next year, which, practically means that tho club will have only a second-rate team '"-■ , for the first three months of ft he season, and, in consequence, may easily loso their place in-tho First League. Tho inquiry ha 3 been a prolonged and exhaustive one. Its result will spread no little dismay in other than Mancunian quarters. It ■ i is well known in the football world that '* ; other clubs besides Manchester City are constantly offending against the rules, especially : . those prescribing tho amount of wages to be paid te a player and his " bonuses." • The ... 1 maximum wage rule, which says that no •: player shall be paid more than £♦ a week, j no matter how good he is, is a standing invitation to wrong-doing. And until it is ■; wiped off the laws of the Football Associa- -:.'/: tion so long will that estimable and wellintentioned body be troubled with these oft- ' recurring scandals. Why not give a foot- ;..■'•; bailor what he is worth—his market value—- : as in every other business or "sport"? The' report of the commission (v.-lfich was t ■ adopted), after disclosing the facts that sum.? ' exceeding the maximum wage fixed had been ,_ paid to certain players and that other rules had been contravened, recommended : the suspension of certain officials and the sus- '.".;;;-- ' pension of the following players from taking \ any part in football or football management until January 1, 1907, and that they be fined :. as. follows:—W. Meredith, £100; G. T. Livvingstone, £100; T. Hvnds, £75; J.. Mc//Mahon. £75; J. Hillman, £50; A. Turnbull, £50; F. Booth, £50; H. Burgess, £50: H. '•'.-< Frost, £50; J. . Bannister, .£SO R. Dearden, V £50; W. Gillespie, £50; W. Holmes, £50: J. H. Edmondson. , £25 R. Davidson, £25: W. ■J. Lyon. £25; S. B. Ash worth, , £25. " ■ That" S. B. Ashworth be declared a profes- ' . : aional; that all the players dealt with under this' report be not allowed to again play for ."'„ the Manchester City Club; that the Man- . Chester City Club be fined £250: that the fines be paid before January 1, 1907: that . th« finos/after paring the expenses of "the ;.;;, . commission, be given to Manchester charities.