SOCCER CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 10

SOCCER CONTROL

REFEREES AND JUDICIAL COMMITTEE STATEMENT BY ASSOCIATION On behalf of the Auckland Football Association Referees’ Association, the president, Mr. A. N. Hankin, and secretary. Air. A. E. Parkinson, have issued the following statement: AVe regret to notice that the Judicial Committee, in its anxiety to clear itself from the charge of leniency made against it by the New Zealand Council, saw fit io publish an article, the main points of which were derogatory to the referees. It has been particularly noticeable during the past few years that footballers show very little respect for referees, and in very few games, do these men escape criticism. There is one thing that should be strictly laid down in all codes—that no matter what takes place on the field of play, the decision of the referee must always be accepted. Hard as it is to do. on some occasions it is all part of the game. Also, if a team can lose to another in a good sporting spirit, its victories are all the more meritorious when it wins. “BAD SPORTSMANSHIP" We have had several exhibitions of bad sportsmanship this season, and in nearly every case the blame has fallen on the referee. Are the players always right? A referee goes on the field to do his best, and incidentally, to enjoy the game as well as the players, and it is surely a poor return for his services to question his decisions at eVery opportunity. It is getting more difficult every season to get men to officiate with the whistle when these conditions obtain, as they undoubtedly do at present. Let our players put more sport into sport, and endeavour to live up to that good old motto, “Set the game before the prize,” for only thus can any game prosper, and in all probability judicial committees would not be needed.