FOOTBALL IN THE GUTTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10069, 15 June 1910, Page 4

FOOTBALL IN THE GUTTER.

It is certainly high time drastic measures were taken to put down ruffianism in Melbourne football. Recent Saturdays seem to have witnessed orgies of disgraceful behav.? jour on the part of players and spectators. Of a senior match, the Age says:—"Almost from the start and right up to the finish, a majority of the players on both sides indulged in pulling, jostling, and punching each other, totally ignoring the laws of the game, and making no attempt to play the ball. The game became 'an unskilful rough and tumble,' and foul play of the must contemptible description' was indulged in." In another senior match, while two men were "shaping" at each other, a third man rushed in and felled one of them with his fist. An umpire who roused the wrath of the crowd by certain decisions, had to fight his way to bis room after the match, amid cries of "Deal with the 'rotter,' " "Get to him," "I'd like to 'pass you out.' " On another ground a,player

had to be escorted from the field by several policemen, a howling mob jostling the party. Of yet another game it is said—"With a weak umpire the players on both sides gave full rein to their angry passions. Blows were struck, elbows were used, and players were deliberately charged. I