SPIRIT OF GAMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1922, Page 5

SPIRIT OF GAMES.

TENDENCY TO DISPUTE RULINGS. NEW PLYMOUTH INCIDENT. AT7OKLAND STAR’S COMMENT. (By Wire —Own Correspondent.) Auckland, Last Night. In a sub-leader concerning the football episode at New Plymouth on Saturday, the Star says: —“If we remember rightly an English authority on law has laid it down that if a Court official were to steal something from a Judge in open court and the jury acquitted him the presiding Judge would not be entitled to comment upon the jury’s verdict. We are not prepared to say whether this extreme case is universally accepted as a good illustration of the principle, but certainly there are Judges who comment on acquittals where guilt is less flagrant. The principle, however, is sound and is applicable to matters far removed from criminal trials. The conception of true sportsmanship in games has no stronger supporting pillar of the principle than that the finding of ail umpire or referee should be accepted under all circumstances.” The paper remarks that unfortunately there are too many cases where it is disputed. It quotes the Taranaki Daily News report of the incident and goes on to say: ‘Tf these facts are correct the business is deplorable and but too typical of an unsportsmanlike spirit in players and spectators. The referee may have made a mistake, but it may be pointed out that according to the rules he has full authority to say whether a kick is a goal or not, and is not obliged to consult the linesmen. He must be presumed to have acted according to the best of his judgment, and whatever his decision was it should have been accepted. So soon as a contest produces a temper that protests against decisions in these unmannerly ways it ceases to be a game and becomes a business. Indeed, there is something starkly humorous in unjust passions that are bred by intense keenness with which games are played and followed. A visitor from another world might think some of these contests were deadly serious battles. The dictum about the Judge and the jury might with advantage be posted up in football and cricket dressing rooms.”