ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 18, 16 October 1917, Page 7

ASSOCIATION

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL MEETS. A meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Football Association was held last evening, .Mr. 1". J. Courtenay presiding. ■ Considerable correspondence was received from the Auckland Football Association concerning several serious cases of misconduct dealt with by tho northern association, and which were described by. tho secretary as being the worst cases in tho history of the game in N&w Zealand. The first offender dealt with was a man suspended by tho .-..RA. from taking any further part in Association football. This man, while a member of (he A.li'.A. Committee and secretary of a club, had been dealt with on a. charge or"having endeavoured to persuade, tho Richmond /.and Everton Clubs to lose matches to the ■'Wild liose Club, with the expressed purpose of preventing tho Brotherhood Club I'roVu winning tne league, in return, Wild Rose were to lose to Richmond and Everton in Falcon Cup matches. Richmond and Everton Clubs, promptly reported tho man who, after exhaustive inquiry by tho A.F.A., was expelled from tho Management Committee. He next appeared on-the occasion of the final of tho Falcon Cup between Wild Rose and Brotherhood, when, owing to the conduct of tho Wild Itoso team ami ito supporters, Die referee (K. C. Jacobs) was compelled to close the gamo eight minutes from lime. The referee, inter alia, reported thjit the man m question attempted to intimidate him at .half-time by saying: "You had belter watch yourself this half, or I shall take my team off the field," this being said m a very acrimonious manner. This led to the final suspension plated upon the num. After a short discussion the suspension was confirmed, and defined to read as follows:—"That tho offender be suspended from taking any further part in Association football in New Zealand, and warned oil all grounds under the control of the Association." Tho next eases dealt with were thoso of tlio captain and vice-captain of a certain team. The vice-captain was ordered off the field for alleged violent conduct, but refused to leavo tho field, in which action lie ,was backed up by the captain. This led to the referee slopping the game. The Auckland Foo'tball Association suspended each of these two players for three months during the 1918 season, mill severely cautioned the rest of the team. Tlio question of confirming these sentences led to considerable discussion, the general opinion expressed being that tho sentences wcro far too light for such serious offences. Members present wcro of the opinion that a much severer penalty should be imposed, but the chairman ruled that the players had been tried and sentenced by the A.F.A., and lie could not agree that further penalty should be imposed, much as ho would like to see it doue. Eventually it was decided to confirm tho sentences, but to inform lite A.li'.A. that tho N.Z.P.A. desires to express its opinion y\Ckt under tlio facts as submitted the sentences appear to bo unduly light. Tho Auckland F.A. asked for a ruling in a match whero a referee having awarded a penalty for hands changed his decision and threw tho ball down outsido tho penalty area because two forwards heavily charged the goalkeeper immediately following the "hands." The secretary read his reply, to the effect that the referee had made a mistake in law in not going on with the penalty-kick, and (his letter was confirmed by tho council.