THE BANGERS OF FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 4122, 13 May 1876, Page 3

THE BANGERS OF FOOTBALL.

We clip the following very pertinent remarks from the 'New Zealand Herald : Can anyone tell' us what really are the rules of football ? Many parents, anxious mothers, and fathers, too do not altogether like the horse-play which marks this very lively game. Recollections are still fresh of the painful death of a promising youth, the son of a clergyman, abou't a year ago. We learn from the English papers that on February last another death was caused by - football. The 'Pall Mall Gazette' says : " The death of another football player will, it is to be hoped, at last lead to some modification of the deadly rules under which this game is occasionally carried on. The victim was a ? young man named Ison, who died- last, Sunday morning at Moss Side, Lancashire, from the effect of injuries he received at a football match on the previous day. From the evidence given at the inquest . on Tuesday, it appears that in the course of the game, which it was stated was played in accordance with the ' Rugby rules, he was ' charged' by another player. The deceased was struck on the right side of the chest, was lifted off his feet, and fell backwards to the ground. He managed to regain his legs, but a few minutes later was seized with a • fit, became insensible, and never rallied. His death was the result of compression of the brain, caused by the sudden shock from the 'charge' and the fall. * The charge,' said a medical witness, ' would be more likely to produce mischief than the fall, and was in his opinion extremely dangerous.' The jury were of the same opinion, and in returning a verdict of ' accidental death' recommended that _the r practices of ' charging, butting, tripping, and scrimmaging' should be discontinued by football players." We are of the same opinion as the jury.