NO REPLACEMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12431, 27 April 1926, Page 9

NO REPLACEMENTS

IN SOCCER GAME AUCKLAND PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN STRONG OPPOSITION RAISED “That the council be asked to approach the English Association and ask them for a dispensation to allow the New Zealand Association to replace injured players during matches, so as to meet local requirements/' Mr A. Menzies, chairman of the Auckland Football Association and delegate, moved this Auckland remit at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association yesterday. Mr Menzies said all the other bodies allowed replacements, and could not understand why Soccer would allow 11 men to play against eight or nine. He recalled an Auckland game in which three men were hurt, and one side was with eight men. Spectators had alsq commented upon it. It could not be shown that the privilege had been abused wherever allowed. It would probably be necessary to get a dispensation from the English Football Association, and he did not think that body would interfere in their local affairs. Mr F. Campbell seconded, although, he said, he had been instructed by his association to vote against it, and quoted the rule that tire game should be played by eleven players. It was the spirit of tho game and not the winning that mattered. TJnder the old rule they could resort to the one back game, but now the team that lost a man really lost him. They did not want that to be the case in New Zealand. They should try and be ahead of England in this matter, and he thought the Old Country would adopt it eventually. He thought New Zealand should pioneer the movement. The change in the rules had altered the position, and he did not think it would be abused. Mr R. B- Bunt thought v it must be a strenuous game in Auckland to lose three men through injuries. The feeling in Christchurch was that the rule should stand. Mr Adamson, a professional referee from the Old Country, said there was no likelihood of replacements now being allowed in the Old Country. Mr A. J. Hyder (South Canterbury) said he was strongly opposed to the remit, and quoted an international match in which Ireland lost a man in the first twenty minutes, yet won 3 —o. It had been tried in Australia, and proved to be a farce. OPEN TO ABVSE Mr J. J. Roberts disagreed with the motion, and said that a new man coming on to> the field when near the end of the game gave a big advantage to that team; He submitted thab it would be open to abuse. It would only be asking for a rebuff to submit such a proposal to the English Association. Mr L. C. H. Dawson said if they wanted to get finance they would have to. make the game attractive. Mr Menzies said they were adopting semi-professionalism now, and were paying plenty of men £1 every Saturday. They in New Zealand wanted to make laws for. New Zealand, and he did not want any dictation from England or anywhere else as ta how they should conduct the game. The motion was then put and voted ou the representation of delegates, and was lost on the votes.