PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 37, 1 June 1907, Page 2

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

An Undesirable Innovation

ALTHOUGH there has so far been no official notification concerning the proposed visit to England of a New Zealand professional football team, it may safely be deduced from the rumours which have lately gained currency that such 'a project is on foot. The mere fact that the New Zealand Eugby Union has already taken steps to safeguard the interests of the national game, so far as the exclusion of professionalism is concerned, goes to show that rumour, in this case, has a foundation in fact. The Union has decreed that each player who is selected to play in the North Island versus South Island match must sign a declaration to the effect that he is not identified in any way with the proposed professional team. Unless he signs such declaration, he is to be barred from participation in the match, and presumably, will find that he no longer holds any status as an amateur footballer.

The New Zealand Rugby Union is deserving of all praise for the firm stand which it has taken in this matter. It is undesirable in every way that professionalism should be allowed to get a hold of a pastime like football. It is not only undesirable, but it is unnecessary. If football were a trade to which it was necessary to devote one's whole time, it might be different, but it is not. Football should besimply and solely a pastime — an exercise — a sport. The average New Zealand footballer is a young man who is shut up all the week working at his trade. He naturally hails Saturday afternoon as a time when he can give play to his energies in a different direction. It would be idle to suppose that he (indulges in the game from a philanthropic notion of giving pleasure to the shivering throng which takes possession of the grandstand. His is a more selfish motive. He plays because he likes playing, and to give pleasure to himself.

To briftg football down to the dull level of a trade is almost certain to effect its ultimate degradation. The argument has bee,n brought forward that the introduction of professionalism at Home has resulted in an increment of interest in the game. We do not deny it. But wherein lies the value of that increment when the interest itself is a mere sordid matter of pounds, shillings and pence ? Loyalty to bis particular county or district

holds no place in the heart of the pro* fessional footballer. His interests are wrapped up" in monetary considera* tions. He will play for a certain club only so long ac that particular club will pay him a fatter fee than any other. A few years ago — and this may be the case now — the Sunderland Aaaocia-. tion team, which in that year won the championship, was composed entirely of highly-paid players recruited from the crack footballers of Scotland. Could this team be described as representative of Sunderland ? Further, did the Sunderland " barrackerV throng to watch the match from motives of patriotism, or from motives of gain ? The answers to both these questions are self-evident.

It has been laid down by writers in the Ho<he papers that, while professionalism has resulted in increasing interest in football, it has also been the means of introducing grave abases. This, of course, is the inevitable consequence of bringing what ought to be a mere pastinie to the lovel of a moneymaking concern. We do not maintain that even amateur foothall is free from abuses. Anybody who uses his eyes and ears must be aware that there is a considerable amount of betting on every match. But this is a mere nothing compared with the conditions which would exist were professionalism allowed to take possession of the game.

Moreover, the extreme secrecy and the myßterious manner in which the promoters of this* latest speculation appear to have gone about the business, would seem to imply that even they themselves are not of the opinion that professionalism in football in an unmixed blessing. Otherwise, where is the need for all these secret negotiations with players? Jt cannot be through fear of the Rugby Union, for the Union has no power to prevent a professional team from going Home, and, in any case, the personnel of the team must inevitably become public property long before that team leaves. The whole affair is a mere monetary speculation, and it is to be sincerely hoped, for the sake of the national game, that no professionalism will be allowed to gain a hold in the football fields of the colony.