ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23219, 17 June 1937, Page 14

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

REFEREE STRUCK BY SPECTATOR COMPLAINT VOICED AT WELLINGTON (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 10. After the Hospital v. Waterside Soccer match at the Basin Reserve last Saturday afternoon, the referee of the match, Mr J. Graham, was struck violently in the back by a spectator. The incident was reported to the Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association to-night by Mr E. J. M’Queen, who represents the Wellington Referees’ Association. Mr Graham was coming off the ground when he was struck by someone among the spectators,” Mr M’Queen said. “This is the second time that such a thing has happened to him after a match on the No. 1 ground. He was struck in the back with such force I hat he lost consciousness for a moment and when he recovered he was in among the seats. The referees consider that something should be done about this kind of treatment. It always happens from behind. If any of the referees catch such a man he will be brought before a magistrate on a charge of assault.” , , , Mr M’Queen said that when he had played the game and any feeling had been roused, the players had made a point of keeping close to the referee as ho left the field.