A FOOTBALL INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1922, Page 5

A FOOTBALL INCIDENT.

REFEREE’S DECISION DISPUTED. TEAM LEAVES THE FIELD. A regretaible incident marked the playing of the final game in the football tournament held at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday, the Inglewood team, who were playing against High School A, leaving the field as a protest against, the decision of the referee (Mr. F. Roberts) in awarding a goal to High School. The contest had been of an exciting nature, though played apparently in the best of spirit. Inglewood were leading 3| —J when, towards the end of the first spell, Foden scored for High School, making the score 3£ all. Brown took the kick, which was made from a fair angle, the ball travelling well, but, from the Press table, appearing to strike the bar and fall iback into the field. The umpire signaled “no goal,” and the crowd apparently agreed that this decision was correct. The referee, however, awarded a goal. This decision was disputed by Coutts (the Inglewood captain), and, in the course of an argument with the referee, the latter alleges that Coutts used insulting language to him, for which Mr. Roberts ordered him off the field. Coutts left, and the Inglewood team followed him. It was impossible under these circumstances to continue the game, and, on the referee’s ruling, the School team were leading at this stage •by 5 to 3|, High School, however, preferred not to accept the Dewar Shield and medals, which were the trophies for the winners of the tournament.

The crowd showed its disapproval of thp referee’s action by hooting him. whilst the Inglewood team, on leaving the field, were accorded a mixed reception, not a few of the spectators urging them to “go on and play the garni.”