Chairman of A.F.A. Issues a Warning

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 397, 4 July 1928, Page 6

Chairman of A.F.A. Issues a Warning

NEW SOCCER ASSN. “SUSPENSION CERTAIN” “Any player taking part in the game other than under the legalised controlling body is automatically suspended, not only in New Zealand, but in any country under the control of the international board,” said Mr. Andrew Menzies, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Football Association. Last evening, at the meeting of the committee, Mr. Menzies made a statement, commenting on reports of the forming of another football association in Auckland. Mr. Menzies said that he would warn club officials and players of the serious consequences which might ensue should they become associated in an\ way with the so-called new association, or play under its jurisdiction. He said the control of Association football throughout the world was handled by an international body in London, to which in turn was affiliated each national association, and the Auckland Football Association, through the New Zealand Association, was pait ai parcel of that body. “MISLEADING TALK” “This international board governs Association football in all parts of the world (including Scotland), and it is idle and misleading talk to suggest affiliation to the Scottish Football Association,” continued Mr. Menzies. “It is regrettable that certain people who are fully aware of the manner in which football is controlled should attempt to mislead innocent players who are not aware of the real position, into certain disqualification. “It is also a matter for regret that the names of several prominent citizens have been used without their permission, and published as a list of the elected officials of the proposed new association. The newspaper reports of the meeting, giving these names, would certainly lead the public to believe that they had identified themselves with this unsportsmanlike movement, which had its birth solely in the refusal of a club to comply with the decision of its elected controlling body. CONNECTION DENIED “I have had communications during the day from Sir George Fowlds. Mr. W. J. Fletcher and Dr. MacDougall, all of whose names have been published as supporting the new movement, and who entirely dissociate themselves from any connection with it. “The name of Mr. H. R. Mackenzie has also been published as vicepresident of the new association. It is well known that Mr. Mackenzie is on the other side of the world, and can have no knowledge of the matter. “It is noticeable that the movement is headed by those who are far past the playing stage, surd also by others

whose clubs have never in the past seen fit to clothe with the mantle of authority, and the consequences to them cannot be so serious as to the young players whom they have set out to mislead. “The bribe held out, and the suggestion that professionalism is coming into its own in this Dominion, is poor compensation to the player who finds himself ineligible to represent his province or the Dominion in playing the game he loves.” UNDER THE BAN N.Z. COUNCIL’S ATTITUDE CHAIRMAN DEFINES POSITION Press Association. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. "X can tell tlie Thistle Club from the start,” saicl Mr. F. Campbell, chairman of the Council of the New Zealand Football Association, “that there is not a hope that the Scottish Association will accept affiliation from it any more than the New Zealand Football Association would accept affiliation from a Scottish club which had had a difference of opinion with the controlling body. It shows clearly that those who addressed the Thistle Club in this matter have little knowledge of the constitution of the Association game. “Even supposing they could do as they propose, they would not be able to get games with any club under associations affiliated to the New Zealand Football Association, and any clubs or players playing for or against the club, which has for the present broken away from the controlling body, would come under .the ban of the New Zealand Council.” Mr. Campbell urged that the proper course for the Thistle Club was to again affiliate with the Auckland Association, and appeal to the New Zealand Council against the decision of the Auckland Association, so that the whole matter could be reviewed. Direct action by any club management was not in the best interests of the sport, and was not the sporting attitude one expected from those engaged in the sport.