Escorts for Umpires

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1921, Page 1

Escorts for Umpires

WWMIfc- ' -* REMARKABLE ORDERS

MELBOURNE, June 4

What is termed officially as “rowdyism” football matches is to bo stopped It is the Police Department that has arrived at this decision. Ibis io\\dyism’’, it has decreed, must be stamped out, and to Ibis end elabori.e precautionary measures to protect players and officials at football matches have been drawn up.

In a big list of instructions issued to sub-officers by Superintended, Evans, are to be seen precautions that Sydney people might regard at least as weird. First of ail, if is set out that in future sergeants will have to take complete charge of the arrangements in all football grounds and in no way trust these sergeants delegate their duties to officers of inferior rank.

That is a general order. But the instructions are particularised For instance the mounted police are ordered to co-operate with the foot police to prevent youths from stampeding over the ground at the end of the match or during the quarterly intervals. Just five minutes before the intervals, or before the end of the game, these mounted and foot officers must tune themselves up and be prepared to enter the Aval as soon as tho signal is sounded

Umpires, in the instructions get a complete clause all to themsdves. It is ordered that the police officer : n charge must not fail to make complete arrangements, for the protection of the man with the whistle, and that arrangements must also bo made + o shield other officials of the match from any attack. These men are to he under the eyes of the police as they come out of the dressing room, while they are on the field, and finally when lliey return to the pavilion. But it is the umpires particularly that tho police will look after. The central umpire of the game according to the instructions, will l>e provided with an escort of plainclothes, mounted, and foot police Another innovation will he tlm sight of policemen standing directly behind the goalposts. They are to be stationed there so that they might get n chance of pouncing down upon the frisky Mdhournitos who persist in bombarding the players and tho goal umpires with apples, and brickbats and onions

this campaign might be carried out with the best results, the poli. authorities have decided that additional plain-clothes men will bo sent to every match where there is a likelihood of “rowdyism.” The whole of the instructions are subject to the approval* of Superintendent Evans, but there is no leason to think that he will veto any of the suggestions. It is generally recognised that prompt and drastic action is necessary.