Football Match Declared "No Game"

Chronicle (Levin), 7 September 1949, Page 4

Football Match Declared "No Game"

The Punahau- Wanderers junior championship game" schedule'dNor Levin Park Domain last Saturday found both teams on the field but no referee to control it. A specvator rallied round and volunteered his services, but he had no whist e. Last night the management committee of the union ruied 'that it te deciared a "no game," and that it be replayed at some future date. Delegate 'for the Refere^es' Association, Mr. J. A. Zuppicich, said that as yet no explanation had been forthcoming from the official referee and tliat he was automatically suspended meaiiwhile. That was probably no great comfort to the teams concerned, but he reminded members that there were times when a referee turned up to a game and not the teams. The association, however, was very sorry about the matter and did not like such' occurr%nces. Members then discussed the question as to whether or no: the game could be regarded as having been played, and whether it was played as a championship or friend'y game. No information was to hand officialiy and no team slips or referee's report had been received. Mr. Zuppicich said that any person who refereed a game unofflcially should complete the task and send Ihe - union team slips, a report of the game and the scorb, That was the cnly way in which" a union could record official scores. Some rugby union de egates who were spectators agreed that the game could hardly be regarded as anything but a friend'y game, as it had not even been played to the full time. ' Moreover, the referee had been without a whistle and had conducted the game in a jocular fashion. Othqrs, however, said that both captaiiis had accepxed the referee and had agreed to abide by his rulings, which might put the matter in a different light. The union would not be consistent if it did not recognise this game, although he personally was not in favour of it. said Mr. Zuppicich. ' Recently hte union had accepted xhe result of a game played under similar circumstances. On that occasion both the team slips had been forwarded to the union signed by the unofficial referee, said Mr. A. Watt. In any' case he did not soe that it was ' a parallel casa. The referee had I a whistle and the -control was I altogether different. A referee of a game had to have a whistle or it would just be a farce, said Mr. A. Haley. After further discussion it was agreed that the union declare the match a "no game."