DISORDER AT FOOTBALL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 8

DISORDER AT FOOTBALL.

.INfIBY CLUB SUPPORTERS.

Disgraeful behaviour by a large section of the onlookers at the Association football match between Auckland Harbor Board and Thistle, on Saturday, spoiled to a large extent what was otherwise an excellent exposition of the code, (states the Herald). Always in a knock-out. competition, such as that for the Falcon Cup, where this beaten team di'ops right out of the running, the feeling is very high, but on this oeension many forgot ali sense of decency, with deplorable -re suits.

Early in the second spell it' became apparent. thut the excitement bad spread to the players, and that several of them were allowing ill-feeling to creep into their methods. A climax was reached when, near five sideline, a Thistle player was seen to raise his fist, threateningly at one of the opposing side. A constable' on duty was right at the spot and intervened. A section of the spectators then surged on to the field, surrounding most of the players, and the referee. Some appeared to be inciting the players, while the intention of others was obviously to restore order.' The referee, who cautioned fchd offending players, was ierred at and hooted in a most unsportsmanlike manner. Eventually the ground was cleared and the game proceeded, hut a certain section continued to hoot and “boo” at the -referee. A little later the referee had occasion t'o order off the field a Thistle player not concerned in the previous incident. This wa« the signal for a further outburst 1 , and when the'game concluded an excited crowd pressed round the players and referee as they went to the dressing rooms.

No actual violence was attempted. The angry ones appeared content In tell the world what they thought of things irt general. Still the incident was of an ugly .nature enough and one that should be thoroughly inquired into. The local management of the game cannot b« blamed in any way for Saturday’s occurrence. It was simply a case of certain of the crowd and players allowing themselves to be absolutely carried away l>v excitement-