SOCCER CONTROL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12252, 25 September 1925, Page 3

SOCCER CONTROL

PLAYER’S MISCONDUCT THREATS OF VIOLENCE TO COMMITTEE WHOLE TEAM SUSPENDED The council of the New Zealand Football Association met last evening, Mr A. Varney presiding. The balancesheet of the Brown Shield match at Wellington, Wellington v. South Auckland, showed that the gate receipts were £124 15s. After payment of expenses, Auckland received £46 3s 2d and Wellington £3O los 4d, and the New Zealand Council £6 4s 9d.

The Canterbury Football Association reported having suspended certain players, one of whom, when informed of his suspension, made use of the most filthy language concerning the committee, and even threatened violence. Would it be in the province of the committee to further suspend the man for his offensive behaviour towards them. No evidence was forwarded with the suspensions, and it was decided to ask for the evidence m each case,

Mr B. L. Salmon said, if the facts were correct, such a man should be suspended for life. It was within the province of the committee to further suspend the man for such conduct, and he moved that the committee be informed to that effect.

The chairman said they were all of opinion that such conduct should be stopped, in the interests of the good management of the game. It was agreed to write the Canterbury Association accordingly. The council confirmed the suspension by South Auckland of a player named H.‘Ashton for ten days for continued dangerous play.

THAMES TEAM WALKS OFF The South Auckland Football Asso■ciation wrote asking the council to confirm the suspension sentences imposed on the Thames team, which walked off,, the field in the match against WaihPon September sth. The view expressed was that the could not take a beatingfrom keen rivals. According t<r*the statements submitted Thames claimed to be justified in their action by reason of the roughness of the game. The evidence of the Thames linesman, Mr Jack, did not bear that out. The decision of the executive of the South Auckland F.A. was that Grover, who was responsible for taking his .men off the field, should be suspended until after the fourth playing Saturday* of any club in South Auckland in the 1926 season. The other ten members were suspended to October sth. The committee of the Thames Club supported action of the team, adding that in their opinion a serious casualty would have happened had the game continued. Mr B. L. Salmon said the offence was a serious one, and merited more severe .punishment. It was the only instance he could recall of a whole team leaving the field in New Zealand. He moved that the suspension be confirmed. Mr H. I. Graves said he thought the council should look into this matter of rough play before the annual meeting. Whether it was the result of the war he could not say, but the game appeared to be much rougher than it was some years ago. It was getting very serious, and he was worried about it. He would like to see the association and Teferees dealing more severely with such cases. It was disgusting to have to confirm so many suspensions of prominent players in n short timeMr J. J. Roberts said the fact that the referees had dealt with these players showed they were dealing with rough play, and he was not alarmed by rfc. They had received several suspensions at once. The game was growing, and a certain amount of that sort of thing was to be expected. If they could strengthen up the referees it might do good. ... Mr Salmon said it was within the power of the council to increase the suspensions. There were approximately seven to eight thousand players in New Zealand. Mr Graves said they did not wan* to make a parlour game, but it seemed to be getting rougher. Mr Roberts: It is getting more vigorous. It was decided to appoint a suV committee to look into the question of irregularities the game, consisting of Messrs Salmon, Campbell, Graves, and Sanders. The suspension of the Thames team was confirmed.

CHATHAM CUP FINAL It ipas reported that the gross gate at Newtown Park on Saturday last at the final of the Chatham Cup and the Ruo-bv League Test match was £2oB 7s, and £2Ol 15s 6d net, of which the New Zealand Football Association received £l2l, and the League £SI. Seacliff expenses would probably amount to about £6O. Of the net profit 50 per cent, goes to the New Zealand Council. 20 per cent, to each association, and 5 per cent, to each club.