BIG FOOTBALL SENSATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 15

BIG FOOTBALL SENSATION

EIGHT LEAGUE PLAYERS SUSPENDED FOE LIFE. 'A football sensation, happily without precedent fesys the London "Daily News")) and. invol;ing offences against the high traditions of tho game so jealously guarded by tho Football Association, was revealed recently by tho official publication of tho report, of the Association's Commission of Inquiry. Following is the text of the report:— The commission was appointed to inquire into tie Football League match between Manchester United and Liverpool, played on April 2,.' 1915, and won 'J—o by tho former club. Tho commission fully investigated the rumours and allogationst largely circulated in several districts during and immediately after the above match, to tho effect that tho result' was pre-arranged for the purpose of betting and winning money , thereby. A mass of information was received. The allegation of squaring the match carried with it a charge of conspiracy by some of the players, and as a result of long and searching investigations wo are satisfied that a number of them were party to an arrangement to do so, and joined together to obtain money by betting on tho actual result of the match. It- is proved that a considerable sum of money changed hands by betting on the matoh, and that some of the players profited thereby. Every opportunity has been given to the players to tell tho truth, but although they were warned that the commissions were in possession of tho facts, some have persistently refused to do so, thus revealing a conspiracy to keep hack the truth.. It is almost incredible that placers dependent on the game for their livelihood should have resorted to suoh base tactics. By their action they have sought to undermine the whole fabric of tho .game, and discredit its honesty and fairness. AVe are bouud to view such oltences in a serious light. The honesty and uprightness of the game must be preserved at all costs, and although we sympattiise greatly with tho clubs who are bound to suiter seriously, wo feel we have no alternative but to impose the' punishments which the players have been warned, over and over agaiu. would he imposed. AYe'are satisfied thnt the allegations have been proved against the following:—J. Sheldon, It.' It- Purcell, T. U.iller, and 'J.'. Fairfoull (Liverpool); A. Turnbull, A.. Whalley, and E. J. West .(Manchester United), and L. Cook (Chester), and they aro therefore permanently suspended from taking part in football or football management, and shall not bo allowed to,enter any football ground in future. There are grave suspicions that others aro also involved, but as the penalty is severo we havo restricted ouv findings to those as to whose offence there is no rea-sonablo doubt. F. Howard (Manohester City) is suspended until tho expiration of 12 months after the registration of professional players has been resumed by the Football' Association for the unsatisfactory and contradictory manner in which hi) gave evidence before the commission.- There has never been the slightest allegation against the clubs or their officials. It is, therefore, unnecessary, to exonerate them from blame or complicity and we are indebted to them for mucli assistance in our investigations. . The inquiries whioh have resulted in the above report were prompted by the action of a Northern bookmaker, who advertised: offering a reward for anv information concerning tho game.' Home of tho players penalised ara members of tho Army.