REFEREES AND ROWDYISM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 13

REFEREES AND ROWDYISM

Complaints from referees of misconduct continue to occupy the attention of the management and the stereotyped “severe warnings” continue to be handed out to offenders. Sooner or later (and the sooner the better for the game) offenders in the matter of “language” will need something other than mere admonition, and referees would be justified in issuing a general warning to all players before the start of the game, and then send the first culprit to the side-line. Referees have the matter in their own hands and firm treatment at the outset will soon check the offence. One of the worst rules ever introduced was that giving players the right to ask the referee the reason for his rulings, but the referee can generally answer the questioner in one word and then suppress any further talk. One fault with referees, very noticeable last Saturday. is “that tired feeling” which prevents them keeping up with the ball. Decisions are bound to be questioned hotly if referees hand them out 40 or 50 yards away from the scene, and to maintain the confidence and respect of the players the referee should carry out his duty of being on the spot. One unusual reversal of the ordinary run of things occurred in a junior game last week when a team reported a referee for absence without leave. It was a distressing day in the matter of weather, and at half-time the referee went for a dose of prophylactic against ’flue’. The game was held up for quite a while awaiting his return. He made up the loss by docking the time off in the second spell, a procedure which is the subject of appeal at the next meeting of the management.