FOOTBALL ROWDYISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5668, 16 August 1905, Page 4

FOOTBALL ROWDYISM.

Last football season, when the Rugby game seemed’ in imminent danger of degenerating into a school of rowdyism whore men might fight without risk of being prosecuted for assault or breach of the peace, we entered a strong protest against the official laxity that allowed such, deplorable exhibitions to take place. Nearly all the newspapers of the colony joined in the protest, and the chorus of condemnation ought to have satisfied those responsible for the regulation of football that either the rowdyism would have to be suppressed, or the game would lose its place in the public estimation. As a matter of fact, most of the Rugby unions accepted the warning, and set about cleaning the game. The Wellington Union is entitled to a great deal of credit for the results of its determination, but the Wellington Union has still playing under its banner men who are a disgrace to- the colours, and the Wellington Union knows it. The committee of the union, however, is in a peculiar position. The delegates from the various clubs have absolutely refused to give the full power required to put a stop to brutal play on the local grounds. Members of the committee, knowing the difficulty referees have in detecting foul play while following the 'hall, wished authority to be given to other officers of the union, who were on the touohlines, to report cases of brutality or foulness that may escape the referee’s eye; but the clubs would net agree to this. The consequence is that, although there has been some improvement, there are men still playing who should not bo playing, and the probabilities are that these men will go on playing until referees are given the assistance they evidently require. For example, during the course of a match on Saturday afternoon, there were instances of real brutal play, and ono man deliberately struck with his douched fist three or four times at an ; opponent. The first blow aimed was the t: la blanche,” which, even in legitimate fighting rules, is a foul, and it just missed the face of the player for whom it was intended. The referee was complained to by the player who had eomo under the displeasure of his antagonist on tho field, and the controller of the game said he did not sec the blows aimed. The game, it may be said, was a very hard one between two first-class teams, but there was no necessity for the unsportsmanlike methods often employed, and it was no matter for surprise that the crowd howled several times for men to be put off the ground. Tho referee on the ’ occasion was a gentleman who is one of the very best controllers in the colony, but a man requires a hundred eyes to watch every tiling that goes on in a football match; and until power is given to responsible officers to report from the touchlino, there are some players who will defeat a referee all day long. It is to bo hoped that tho Wellington Rugby Union will not relax its efforts to claanse tha game of improj>«r practices, and will continue to deal drastically with players who offend. There should he no* difficulty in proving the? misconduct that took place on Saturday last.