FRENCH ATHLETES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18514, 27 March 1922, Page 5

FRENCH ATHLETES

THE VIDAL CASE. REFERRED TO A JURY. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, March 25. (Received March 26, at Scs p.m.) The French Rugbv Federation has decided to refer the yidal matter to a jury, and Vidal’s expulsion, has been deferred pending tho jury’s decision. —A. and N.Z. Gable [A Paris message dated February 9 stated: A sensation has been caused lately in French sporting circles regarding allegations of professionalism mad© against French amateur athletes in all branches of sport It culminated when M. Gatson Vidal, Under-secretary of State for Technical Instruction £nd Physical Education, in the course of en interview, which was published broadcast, stated that professionalism was paging in many Rugby teams in the South of France. This has been whispered often, but now that the accusation has been made by a member of the French Cabinet, the Rugby Federation, after having through its president denied the rumour, actually called at its bar of justice the French Minister. M. Vidal, of course, refused to reply to the convocation, despite his being a member of the federation and a former well-known Rugby player. The union is meeting tonight to decide what further stops to take. Another bombshell fell when M. Franz Reichel, one of the oldest sportsmen in France, and founder of many athletic federations, resigned from the Football Federation following a close decision taken by the council of the federation to meet an English team which would be composed partly of amateurs and partly of professionals. M. Reichel, who was vice-president and founder of the Association Football Union, voted against this, and has always been a strong upholder of amateurism. M. Reichel, in explaining his resignation in a long article, says that sport as conducted in certain quarters in France no longer interests him. “We are,” he writes, “drifting towards professionalism, which should be the exception and not the rule.” The steps taken by M. Vidal and M. Reichel, who have been for years tho leaders of French sports, will probably have widespread effects, the cleaning up of the amateur federations and the creation of a professional football league. Meantime there are many who believe that the State will take action in the matter. and discontinue important subsidies to athletic clubs, also that thov will impose tho usual taxation, ranging from 15-40 per cent, on professional sporting meetings, which up till now has not'been paid on the ground that they woro amateur sporting associations. A later Exchange Paris message stated M. Vidal had been expelled from tho Rugby Union.]