PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18016, 15 February 1922, Page 8

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

THE TROUBLE IN PRANCE.

RUGBY OR ASSOCIATION? [by. telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

Grave doubts are expressed as to whether the cablegram referring to the trouble in regard to professionalism in football in France refers to the game of Rugby at all. The view is expressed here by Mr. A. J. Griffiths, selector of the AD Blacks, and members of the New Zealand Rugby Union that the cablegram refers to the Association game. During tho present season there are 56 Association teams and 54 Rugby teams playing in France. The Rev. M. Mullineaux, formerly captain of the English football team that toured the Dominion, returned from his South Island lecturing tour last night, having arrived here from France three weeks ago. Interviewed, he said:—" I am firmly convinced that tfhe cablegram, which I read in Blenheim yesterday, had nothing to do with the game of Rugby, but concerns the Football Association of Paris, which controls the Association dame in France. I never heard the slightest suggestion that there was any professionalism in French Rugby. When Carpentier played his last game against the New Zealand army team he said it was one of the greatest regrets of his life that he would not be able to appear again in amateur Rugby, as he intended to become a professional boxer."