N.Z. FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9792, 16 October 1917, Page 8

N.Z. FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

A meeting of the Now Zealand Football Association was held last night, presided over by Mr P. J., Courtney. Considerable correspondence was received from the Auckland Football Association regcarding several serious cases of misconduct occurring in the northern city, which wore described by the secretary as being the worst in the history of the game in .New Zealand. The first offender dealt with was R. Litteh.who earlier in the season had been expelled from tho A.F.A. committee for endeavouring to persuade Richmond and Everton Clubs to lose matches to his own club. Wild Rose. . Subsequently Wild Rose met Brotherhood in the Falcon Cup final,' when owing to misconduct by Bitten and others tho referee (F. C. Jacobs) was compelled to stop the game. As a result of this the A.F.A. suspended Bitten from taking further part in Association football. This was oonflmed, and the sentence was defined to mean that Bitten be suspended from taking any further part i nAssociation football .in. New Zealand, and warned off all grounds under the Association’s control.

The next cases dealt with were Lornie and Graham , (captain and vice-captain), of the Wild Rose Club, fo rmisconduct in connection with the final match. Graham had been ordered off for violent conduct, but 'had refused to leave the field, and in this action had been backed up by Lornie. The sentence of the Auckland Association on these two players was three months each daring next season. ConBidedable discussion arose, all members agreeing that the sentences were far too light for such serious offences, and it was pointed out that similar cases in other centres had been dealt with much more seriously. . It was desired to considerably increase the sentence, but the chairman ruled that this could not be done, as these players had been tried and sentenced, and . such decision could not be altered. At tb same time' he agreed that severer measures should have been taken.

, Eventually it was decided to confirm these suspensions, but to express to the Auckland Football-Association .an opinion that on the facts as submitted the sentences appear to the N.Z.F.A. to be Unduly light.