“Broken Time ”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 11

“Broken Time ”

I MAY MEAN DEATH-KNELL [ I OF THIS YEAR’S OLYMPIC j SOCCER COMPETITION. J j I “SHAM-AMATEURS” IN SPORT 1 The action of tho Football Association in refusing to swallow the principle of “broken time” in football, which the comparatively youthful and inexperienced International Football Federation attempted to force upon it, is likely to be borne out up to the hilt long before the Games are duo (says “London Sporting Life”). In severing relations with the Federation, the F.A. made a dignified protest against the sacrifice of the timehonoured tradition, “sport for sport’s sake.” The Federation ignored the protest, and in so doing made the path smooth for the sham-amateur. Support for Britain Other countries apparently are now waking up to the fact that Great Britain is right; that to allow amateurs to be reimbursed for the time they devote to sport is a highly-dangerous practice, and the reverse of honest. Entries for the Olympic football tournament have closed, and only nine European countries, in addition to America, Uruguay and the Argentine, have eritered, and it is feared that some of these may scratch before the start. In th© Paris Games 24 nations took part. This is a cruel blow to Holland, for it is to football, with its big gates, that Olympic organisers look for their profit. Unlucky Holland On the success of the “Soccer” tournament the Dutch, who have spent over £200,000 in organisation, are basing their hopes, and they will have some unkind things to say to the Federation now that the football is “falling down,” especially as in Holland football is the national sport. It is expected that almost all of the countries whose adhesion to the Federation is conditional, will now follow the lead given by the F.A. It is felt that professional football should be recognised on similar lines as in this country, and that a clean sweep should b© made of “amateurs” who are in tho game for what they cap get. Unless a last-minute effort is made to repeal the “broken-time” permit the Amsterdam Games may be a financial failure, and if the permit is withdrawn it will sound the death-knell of the Federation.