The Dangers of Football.

Manawatu Herald, 21 June 1904, Page 2

The Dangers of Football.

Tiiv. increasing number of accidents in football matches is becoming a matter of serious importance. It seems a pity that this fine old English game —one of the few bona fide games remaining to us—-should be suffered to deteriorate into a mere exhibition of horse-play and brutality ; but it is evident that something will have to be done to prevent the recurrence of such scenes as were witnessed in Wellington and Wanganui recently. Players would do well to take warning from the words of Mr Jas. Ashcroft, the district coroner, at the inquest held a few days ago concerning the death of Edgar Thomson, who succumbed to injuries received in a match between Wellington and Poneke. Mr Ashcroft referred to the case of Regina v, Bradshaw, 'in which it was laid down that if, while engaged in a friendly game, one of the players commits an Unlawful act whereby death is caused to another, it is manslaughter ; nor is it material to consider whether the act which caused the death Was or was not in accordance with the rules and practice of the garde. Pootballers should therefore take every possible precaution, and play the game in a gentlemanly manner, or else in the event of causing injury to a fellow player, they lay themselves open to a very grave charge. Accidents of course will happen at times, but it is obvious that the exceptionally large number of injuries arising out of football during the past few months can only be due to the improper methods of the players, and not to any defect in the regulations of the game. If football is played in accordance with the rules, and in a friendly spirit of rivalry, no harmful results will follow, but if the game is carried out in the brutal way lately evidenced at Wanganui and elsewhere, it is high time that the law stepped in and pub a stop to such disgraceful practices. We are glad to note that in the match on Saturday last between Foxton and Motuiti, this element of rough play was conspicuous by its absence, and we trust that local players will use their best endeavours towards preserving the standard of the game. Unless this is kept up, the matter will call for repressive legislation, and we shall lose football in the same manner and on the same account as we lost prize-fighting.