FOOTBALL BAN

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1932, Page 2

FOOTBALL BAN

RADIO BROADCASTING. POSITION IN ENGLAND. LONDON, Nov. 1. There is a prospect that the ban on the broadcasting of football matches will be at least partially lifted before long. It will be remembered that tin? Football League last June forbade the broadcast of commentaries on any of their matches, and that the Football Association followed suit, only exempt, ing from the bap the final for th e F.A. Cup. Since then influences fern an amicable settlement between the 8.8. C. and these bodies have been at work, On the one side Savoy Hill has had overwhelming evidence of the hardships caused to numerous classes of people, the bedridden, the blind, and others, by the bans imposed; on the other, the footbnll organisatons have also realised from their correspondence and in other ways, that their attitude penalises large numbers of people, and moreover they are gradually weakening in their opinion that broadcasting injuriously affects “gates” At a meeting to be held shortly the Football Association will consider the whole matter afresh, and it is understood that the 8.8.0. hopes that the ban will at all events be lifted from the semi-finals for the F. A, Cnp and from inernatjonal matches. There 1 cumins the attitude of the Football League, The position in this case is that the ban was imposed at the annual meeting in June last and cannot technically be raised until the next annual meeting. Information to this effect has been conveyed to Savoy Hill. The 8.8. C., however, has pointed out that this -involves a long wait for a decision and lias suggested that in the circumstances a special meeting might, be called to deal with the matter. The League is considering this, and. without being too optimistic, there is reason to hope that the suggestion will lie accepted. If it is, a favourable decision regarding the ban is not unlikely, Meanwhile, the Irish Football Association li;ts intimated to the 8.8. C. that applications to broadcast matches I |i Ireland will be considered favourable, and the 8.8.C' .will relay in England any of these mate lies that 'ts commentators attend.