Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1909. FOXTON FOOTBALL REFEREES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3653, 31 May 1906, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1909. FOXTON FOOTBALL REFEREES.

The Foxton Football authoritie r always experience difficulty in obtaining referees to act in Foxton. The reason is not hard to seek. To speak plain: We cannot truthfully recall one single game played within the last three seasons over which there has not been complaints made of the referee —always, of course, by some of the players or supporters of the defeated side. This should not be, and the Foxton Sub-Union intends to deal as severely as the law wdi allow with players who attempt to further question an arbitrator’s decision. Leniency has been tried, hut without success. Now, only one thing can be done, if we wish to respect our referees and their rulings : Uphold their dignity ! Offending players will please take note of this, and remember that it is not wise to unduly criticise or dictate to a referee’s decision on the field of play. Leave all the talking to your captains. It. would be well to know that appeals can be lodged against any referee’s decision on matters of rule, but not on matters of fact. Just study this, and try and distinguish the difference between fact and rule, and then perhaps a great deal of the unnecessary ‘ ‘ gabble ’ ’ that a referee is subjected to from players will be missing from future matches at the racecourse. No referee wishes to use his powers to the fullest extent by ordering ignorant players off the field of play, but such a course will have to be adopted in future if these players cannot control their bigoted feelings. If a player thinks the referee’s rulings are wrong, his team can enter a protest on the rule-point in question in writing, immediately after the game is concluded. Generally speaking, the few troublesome players will have to learn to suffer the pangs of defeat, and take such defeat nobly, without raising a cry of incompetency or cheat against every referee who happens along—without respect to such referee’s integrity and honour. So much for the bigoted player, who happily is in, the minority, but who unfortunately makes himself heard so loud that few referees wish to risk their good characters by testing the bigotry of this class of footballer. Now for the unruly spectator: Fortunately, there is not many of him in our midst, but he will have to be stamped out, and that speedily. He is usually an individual who gains admittance to the ground bv scaling the fence a considerable distance from the gate-keeper, and who does not know even the A B C of good

manners. Me is youthful, and nerhor;:- his vile surroundings do not urge him to know better ; his feelings are strung to such a pitch of vandalism that he cares not whether humanity is injured so

his particular fane}?’ side wins the day; he makes use of such utterances as “scrag him,” “kill him,” “kick him,” and other vile terms we do not intend u re-iterate; he hoots any decision of the referee which does not favour his fancy side, and goes frantically mad when a decision is given in their favour; he knows nothing about rules, nor does he wish to ; maybe, he has made a wager of a packet of fags (cigarettes) or a long shandy, and his one aim is to succeed, by hook or by crook, so what does he care for the use of a few adjectives, or naughty words, in hjs endeavour to urge his side to victory. Happily there are few of these in the vicinity, but what there are make themselves a bore to the other unbiased spectators present, and, if there is any trouble, it generally emanates from this class of individual. It is this class of football attendant that prevents outside and local referees from accepting positions to act at Foxton matches. In support of tins contention, we may state twof local men and two outsiders have refused to- find time to act in next Saturda3 r ’s match— Huia v. Awahou. This should not be. Referees should have the confidence of the entire public and players, and until they do, we shall find it hard to get referees to keep appointments. It is the intention of the Foxton football authorities to treat , the dissatisfied player with his desserts, and also to make a fitting example of the uncouth, villainous, and cigarettelunged ignoramus who pests the racecourse with his presence, and who cannot refrain from giving vent to vile expressions of hooting, etc., at what ought to be friendly games. Fair legitimate enthusiastic barracking is wanted, and we do not take exception to any person barracking hard for one particular side, but the hooter, _ the biased filthy mouthed mannikin is not wanted, and would do well to stop in his own particular ha'unt in future on Saturday afternoon in preference to crawling through the fence, or maybe plagueing the gate-keeper with the dirty colour of his three-penny bit. We must stamp him out, and officials will be told off in future to see to these offenders. So beware !