ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19254, 19 August 1924, Page 8

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

(/PAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The weekly meeting of tho executive of tho 0. F.A was held last evening in the secretary’s office, Air H. J. Duncan being in the chair. A request from the secretary of the Otago Referees’ Club for free passes for local referees for the Chinese match was received and it was decided to refer tho matter to tho New Zealand Football Council for consideration. ... The Secretary of tho Boys’ Division of the Canterbury Football Association wrote acknowledging receipt of the proposed regulations to govern tho primary schools’ triangular tournament to be played in Dunedin during the first week in September, and objected to tho regulation regarding the restriction of weight—Tho 1 otter was received, and referred to the Schools’ Oommittee. , The Otago Rugby League applied for the use of a ground for practice for the Dunedin team to play at Christchurch. —Oval No. 1 was granted, excepting for SeptemTho Secretary of the Mornington Club applied for permission for a junior team to travel to Oamaru on Saturday, August 25, to play Oamaru Rangors.—Pcvmission was granted, subject to tho manager’s name being submitted. Permission was also granted to the Seacliff Club to play a team from tho Otago University to-morrow. Air Reay, referee in tho SouthernY.AI.C.A. fifth grade match, reported having ordered off Mitchell, a Southern player, for twice questioning his decisions. It was decided to ask the player and referee to attend the next meeting. , It was decided to close the Senior Grade competition, Seacliff to bo declared the winners.—A motion was also passed congratulating Seacliff on their splendid record. The Third Grade competition was also closed, Alornington being declared the winners. A REFEREE CENSURED. In accordance with a resolution carried at last week’s meeting, Mr J. Fogarty (referee) and Alessrs I. C. Fraser (captain of Hign School Old Boys) and R. Peake (linesman) appeared before the executive to give their account of an incident during the Old Boys-Seacliff match, played at Seacliff on August 9, when it was alleged that the referee used objectionable language to Fraser, who had asked for a ruling on a free kick from which Seacliff had scored. Air Harraway, delegate for Old Boys, explained that the referee blew his whistle and awarded Seacliff a free kick, but players on both sides did not understand what tho offence was. He distinctly heard Fraser ask the referee for a ruling, but did not catch the reply of the referee. Ho went on to explain other incidents in the game, anti detailed a conversation that ensued between a Seacliff player and an Old Boys player, a question being: How could ho (the referee) see that from tho position he was in?” Several members rose to a point of order, stating that tho question they were considering was one of language and not the other in the game. Air Fraser said he would verify what Mr Harraway had said. A free kick was given against Old Boys for an infringement m the penalty area. When tho whistle blow Hooper (Seacliff) and two of Old Boys backs were together, and both Hooper and Imrio fouled the ball, but be did not know who handled tho ball first. ’The majority of the Seacliff players understood that it was against themselves, and went down the field, Old Boys following, but the referee had awarded a free kick against Old Boys, and before the latter could get their players in position the ball was kicked off and a goal scored. Ho contended that if they wore penalised it should have been a penalty kick against them, as the offence took place in the penalty area. As captain he contended he was quite right to ask for a ruling, as ho felt annoyed at the time, but the manner in which ho asked tho question gave the referee no cause to use the words he did to him. Several questions were put to Mr I rascr by the members and answered satisfactorily. . Mr Peake said he saw the play which led up to the incident, but did not hear the referee use the words complained of, as he was more than 15 yards away. Mr Fogarty, replying to the charge, stated the matter came as a great surprise to him. As regards the statement concerning certain words used by him he would not state whether he had used them or not. He asserted that Fraser was a “pest” during the game, and should have been ordered oft. Old Boys took the result of the game badly. The offence referred to took place outside the penalty area. Mr Fraser asked why the. ball was placed inside the penalty area line for kicking. After questioning the referee, the committee discussed the matter at length, and Mr MTnnes moved that through lack of sufficient evidence the matter be allowed to drop. > Mr Anderson pointed out, that Mr Fraser had given his evidence in a straight-for-ward manner in contrast with that of Mr Fogarty. He pointed out. that Air Fogarty should not have called Air Fraser a pest, mid he moved as mi amendment —“That in the matter of foul language as reported to this executive, which had been used by the referee, ho be censured.” The amendment was carried by seven votes to six, one member not voting. Air M’Lellan, who reported a player, Quin, of the. Post and Telegraph Third Grade team for rough play and answering back, attended and made an explanation. After being ordered off the player kicked the ball as far as he could, saying he would have one more kick before he went off. The player mentioned did not appear as requested, and it was decided that he be suspended until he appeared before the executive. A trial match to select the Otago team for the match against the Chinese on September 3 will be played at Culling Pafk on Saturday.