A SOCCER SENSATION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11685, 24 November 1923, Page 11

A SOCCER SENSATION

THE CHINESE TEAM OOMMONWELATH AUTHORITIES IMPUGNED. * HAS THE GAME BEEN EXPEDITED? Ample justification (it was represented to a “New Zealand Times" reporter) is forthcoming for the New Zealand Football Association Council in insisting upon the strongest guarantee© in the event of a visit from the Chinese Soccer team, which, recently concluded a tour of Australia, according to a story which came to a "New Zealand Times ' representative yesterday. . A FIVE FIGURE BUSINESS. A Wellington who returned from Sydney a few days ago, stated that at the boginning of the month ten Chinese Soccer players were managerless in Sydney. They were members of the team which had boon touring the various States, and the sum of their objection was that their amateur status had* been exploited. It is alleged that a sum running into fivi figures has found its way into tho hands of the men who brought them, to Australia. • PROPOSAL TO NEW ZEAEAND COUNCIL. The possibility of tho Chinese team pajying a visit to New Zealand was mooted several times, and was considered most carefully by the New Zealand F.A. Council. The council and its principal official, Mr B. L. Salmon, had considerable difficulty in getting hold of any definite proposal from the other side of tho Tasman or from ttho individuals in Auckland, who, it was rumoured, desired to bring the team over to tho Dominion and run tho tour on a profit-sharing basis. NO EXPLOITATION HEBE. The council, it ia said, book a very firm stand against anyone teing allowed to exploit the game for personal profit, being desirois that any proceed® should be devoted to the furtherance of the game in New Zealand. Eventually they succeeded in getting an offer in writing from the company which had been formed in Australia under the title of "Australian Tours, Ltd.,” but the offer was onfe which simply could not be entertained, and the council declined to accept it. Its very nature disclosed that some individuals or somebody or association were determined to have a big finger in the pio 'if the Chinese team—control of which had been secured under a contract —was to tcur tho Dominion. JUST AS WELL. So the tour of New Zealand by the Chinese team last season did not eventuate, and though there was considerable disappointment on the part of the different associations north and south, in the light of events now disclosed the New Zealund Council has reason to congratulate itself upon ha\ing kept its [hands clean of what appears to have beon a peculiar transaction. KNOWN IN NEW ZEALAND. Among the persons who were instrumental in getting tho Chinese team to Australia, and. wore shareholders in Australian Tours, Ltd., were Sydney Storey, secretary of the N.S.W.F.A., and assist-ant-manager of the Australian team which visited New Zealand in the 1921-22 season, and Arthur Morgan, manager of the team. In Iris report subsequent to 1 the tour Mr Storey was anything but complimentary to the New Zealand council, and* also members of the New Zealand tesm, and it was hoped that on the return of the Ndw Zealand team from Australia, last season a report would

have been presented on this subject. This has not been received, or if received has not been made public. THE PROCEEDINGS. At the express invitation of a certain person, a Chinese Soccer team earlier in the year landed in Australia for a friendly and non-remunerative tour, ©imply asking that their expenses should be paid. Their engagement was contracted in the city of Victoria. Hongkong. Six Sydneyites and a Queenslander, before the Chinese had even been landed, had concluded an agreement with a certain association to take a controlling interest in the tour. This association seemed glad to wash its hands of the visitors for a consideration of per cent, of the takings. A further 25 per cent, was to be deducted to pay expenses. That left 50 per cent, for private enrichment. WOULD PLAT FOR CHARITY. This body of seven men was duly formed into a company, and registered under a fanciful name in Sydney. Most peculiarly, two of the principal shareholders of the company were earlier ii the .year the two men most ardently agitating for the Chinese Soccer team to visit Australia. Upon their arrival in Australia the Soccer team signed an agreement which placed them in the hands of these seven men. The Chinese completed this contract to the letter, and the last match was played at Launceston. Upon their return from there they were asl ed to play a match at Bssendon. Before the Chinese left their homeland it was their intention to devote the proceeds of their matches outside those provided for by any contract to charity j so from the Hotel Windsor, where they were stopping, a letter was penned to Sydney suggesting that the proceeds of the E«*erdon match be given to a Melbourne hospital. BUT PROPOSAL IGNORED. The Itter was ignored, but the Chinese had had an idea that the suggestion had not been overlooked. On Wednesday, October 31st, theyween© suddenly and summarily ordered to entrain for Sydney and were informed that a charity match arranged for at Goulburn had been cancelled. Although they iosented the cursory order they agreed to depart, provided the Sydney match takings should go to a Sydney hospital. With their proposal ignored again they began to wonder whether anything was wrong. They further requested a charity match for Melbourne. They suspected they were being exploited. EXPLOITED FOR PRIVATE ENDS. An astute Melbournian informed the team that they were being exploited for private ends. The team, considering that they had fulfilled thoir contract to the letter, and resenting .such exploitation, declined to go to Sydney. As their wishes regarding at least one charity match per State had not been considered, they decided to stop in Melbourne and see the Melbourne Cup. There is absolutely no dissension in the team The whole trouble is between a team, as a team, which desires to play now only for charity, and a self-seeking few who will only benefit themselves. AMATEUR STATUS AND CHARITY. “The ff.cts of the tour when known in China will raise a storm among the newspapers there," said a prominent Chinese when spoken to on the subject a week or two ago. “This team came out with onlv two objects in view, emateur status ana charity." The company concerned is registered os Australian Tours, Ltd. Tho names of the shareholders ore: —William Lincoln Annandale, 200 shares; Arthur Morgan, Brisbane, 50; Sydney Storey (believed to be also of the Commonwealth Soccer Association), Drummoyne, 100; Steph?n Slack (believed to be also of the Commonwealth Soccer Association), Manly, 100; Frank West, of Kogaxah, 50;

Charles Dixon, Willoughby, 50; William Allerdice, Hurstvilie, 100. THOSE CONCERNED. The association concerned is the Commonwealth Soccer Association. Storey and Slack are believed to be concerned in tho invitation of the Chinese. The Chinese players objected to the company making money out of them. Mr H. A. Hilliard, representative of the Commonwealth Soocor Association, ia believed to have some connection with Australian Tours Ltd. He waajthe actual one who issued the invitation to the Chinese. AN UNPLEASANT BUSINESS. The whole business (it is said) is calculated to give Soccer a tremendous set* -back in Australia, and may even react in New Zealand unless the New Zealanl Council takes up a definite stand in the matter. It is possible that one of the affiliated bodies in Australia or- New Zealand will bring the matter before the English Football Association so that the whole matter is sifted to the bottom, and those who are proved to have .exploited the Chinese and the game for private gain, may be removed from all.further association with the code. CLEAR THE AIR. In view of the way in which New Zee land is confused with Australia it u thought that the New Zealand Council 6hould at any rate clear the air .with the English F.A. so far as they are concerned, and should even ask for a dele* gate solely to represent the Dominion, leaving another to be appointed for Aua> tralia.