ROWDYISM AND FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7127, 17 June 1901, Page 2

ROWDYISM AND FOOTBALL.

Happily disturbances such as that which interrupted the football match between the Kaiapod and Merivale teams .on Saturday are not very common in New Zealand, and of comparatively rare occurrence in Canterbury. Still, it will not do to 'overlook the fact that on more than one occasion lately players have exhibited a tendency towards .playing roughly, and spectators towards rowdyism. , There have been, it as true, no exhibitions like th&t which disgraced the Kaiapoi Domain on. Saturday, but on several occasions incidents have occurred which indicate a tendency on; the part of both 1 players and spectators to overstep the bounds of good taste and fair play. On Saturday these bounds were actually passed. Two players resorted' to blows, and the spectators rushed the ground and stopped the play. It is offered as an excuse for the offending players £hat both' teams had 'been aroused to suoh. a pitch of excitement by the behaviour of the spectators that individual members were scarcely responsible for their actions. Thi9 explanation may very well be left to the Canterbury Rugby Union to inquire into, but the conduct of the spectators merits some expression of public disapproval. A crowd which cannot maintain' a hetter control of its feelings surely deserves very Httfle oonsideratSon from the football authorities, and if the Rugby Union decides that, Kaiapoi shall be removed from the list of grounds on which the matches, under the auspices of. the Union are played, nobody will be in a position to say tfrat the punishment is undeserved. Saturday's scene constitutes another argument in. favour of the centraHsaK tion of Senior matches at Lancaster .Parljf, and it will not be a matter for surprise if the Rugby Union decides to adopt this plan.