ABUSIVE SPECTATORS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20800, 20 August 1929, Page 7

ABUSIVE SPECTATORS.

MOSGIEL CLUB'S FOLLOWERS. OFFICIALS RESENT REMARKS. Strong exception was taken by members of the Management Committee of the Otago Football Association at its meeting last night to abusive remarks made to them by supporters of the Mosgiel Club. The matter was brought up by Mr F. Ball, who, when a Mosgiel player had been suspended earlier in the evening for Using obscene language to the referee in the match between Mosgiel aiid Northern, had asked that his name be recorded against the motion, because, he said, the spectators had been largely to blame. Mr Ball stated tbat during the game some of the Mosgiel Supporters had made heated remarks to which he took strong exception. He went into the dressing room after the game and saw four or five Mosgiel supporters who accused him of trying to put the team out of the competition. He thought that a letter should be sent to the Mosgiel Club protesting against the abusive remarks levelled at the members of the Management Committee. He did not see why the members should be insulted left and right by supporters of the club, and he took strong exception to their behaviour. * Mr J. Simpson: We simply won't tolerate it. Mr Ball then moved—“ That the committee draw the attention of the Mosgiel Club to the fact that certain of its followers have 6n Occasions passed abusive remarks towards the Management Committee, and requests that the matter be brought up at the nest meeting .of the committee with a view to putting a stop to this objectionable practice,” He added that some of the clubs said that they woulqd not travel to Mosgiel again. Every referee who went there was abused shockingly. The motion was carried, and Mr J. Steven (president of the Mosgiel Club) was called in. The chairman said that some of the spectators became a little hot-headed, and the remarks they passed were, not very nice. . It was a pity that followers of the club could not avoid passing re-' marks. The members of the Management Committee had the best interests of the game at heart. Mr Ball stated that the conduct of some of the spectators was abominable. Every referee who goes out there has an awful time,” he added, “and if the Mosgiel spectators don’t mend their ways I will be in favour of making them sit up for it.” The committee was informed by Mr Steven that he thought that he would he able to do something to bring about an improvement, and the matter was allowed to drop.