FOOTBALL INCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 10

FOOTBALL INCIDENT.

PLAYER STRIKES REFEREE. LIVELY GAME DESCRIBED. THE QUESTION OF PENALTY. [r.V TELEGRAPH.—OWN COR-RE.SPONDENT. ] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. A lively game of Association football was described at a meeting last evening of the northern division of the Taranaki Football Association, when a protest against the suspension for only 12 months of a Caledonia Club player for striking the referee was received from the Referees' Association. In his report on the incident in the match, which was held on September 5, the referee, Dr. D. E. Brown, said that early in the second half a Caledonian player was penalised for dangerous tackling and was warned. Later a penalty kick was awarded to the opposing team. The majority of the Caledonian players protested and the greatest disorder ensued. A Caledonian player took possession of the ball and refused to hand it over until threatened with dismissal from the field. The ball was placed in the open, and from the medley of criticism it was noticeable that tho player previously warned was the chief offender, lie was ordered off forthwith. " Shortly afterwards a member of the opposing team scored from an off-side position and 1 indicated a free kick," Dr. Brown continued. " Pandemonium broke out among the Caledonians and I looked round to see what was wrong and found a Caledonian player rushing at me. I fended him off and turned to inquire from the others what all the agitation was about. The player then committod the assault and was ordered off." It transpired that this player and some of the Caledonians who had not seen the referee's signal thought a goal had been awarded. The meeting decided to refer the matter to the Taranaki Football Association.