1939-02-02 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 2, 1939

The Soccer Offside Bugbear

RULE CHANGE WHICH IS MOST ESSENTIAL

(By ST. STEPHEN) Edinburgh (By Air Mail). With sport, in many parts of the world, but particularly in Europe, viewed to-day almost in the light of a political activity, it is per- haps not without some measure of justification that we in these islands pride ourselves on the fact that as far as we are concerned the game itself if still the thing that counts, not the result.

That is a very nice tribute we pay ourselves, and to a certain ex- tent it is accurate but is it wholly true? A closer examination of the position, at least in so far as it concerns Association football, which everyone will probably agree is our No. 1 game, leads me to believe that there are se- veral itsems we could well afford to be without and which are, to say the least of them, disturbing factors.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are rapidly climbing towards the top of the League, are also favourites for the F. A. Cup. The Wolve's beat Leicester on Jan. 21, by 5 goals to 1. Photo shows: The Wolves have a real live mascot-a lucky black cat with the name of Sambo. Here are some of the Wolves team with their mascot at the Molineux grounds, Wolverhampton.

For a while there was a fear that the rising generation of footballers had lost much of the skill that. characterised, the play of their elder brothers, but the ease with which the recent Con- tinental challengers have been overcome have set our minds at! rest a little. We have come to the conclusion that if our interna- tional players are not all " we might desire them to be, they are The Motherwell pair seem to have still a cut ahead of their like from reduced it to a fine art and in the game the Hibernians recently, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and the against

it is said that in the second half many rest of Europe, and in that well-conceived and skilfully executed thought we are happy.

Player's

moves on the part of Milne and his

Not so long ago, too, especially over wings were counteracted most ruthless-

Registration

Refused

(By AIR. MAIL)

the Border, there was an outery on the ly by the offside wiles of Wales, and THE English Football Association have declined to accept the

CHANGE THE RULE!

is an emphatic no, because in

my

registration of David Mangn all for Millwall this season.

An official statement issued by the F.A. reads:-"That, having regard to the resolution of the Council of December 20, 1920, which was revised and issued to clubs in July 1936, the Consultative Com- mittee is not prepared to exercise a discretion in Mangnall's favour, in view of the fact that he was a retained player of the Millwall Club at the time he was interested in forecasting results of matches.

question of rough play. Just how far Ellis. One critic of the match weni it was justified I am not prepared to the length of remarking

that both say, but the authorities appeared to be backs were acting quite within the genuinely alarmed, for they took pre- rules, by using these tactics, and while cautionary measures to ensure that the that cannot be denied, I would like to best interests of the game would be honestly ask were they acting accord safe-guarded.

ing to the true spirit of the 'rule, which As the outery has subsided now, it is quite a different matter, or in the can only be concluded that the mea-best interests of the game. sures adopted were successful, and it is a feather in our cap that on the whole our Soccer is clean.

I venture to suggest that the answer STRAITS CHINESE One might well ask then--what is opinion the backs by the exploitation wrong with our game seeing it is ap- of offside tactics only made a negative parently better and probably cleaner contribution to the play and spectators than that on the Continent? I will pay to see football, not stoppages. do my best to answer, and to begin When one remembers. that it was con- with must say that I fear our Soccer sidered necessary to alter the offside prowess and

vaunted sportsmanship rule in the past because of its abuse by are endangered more in the spirit than defenders, it is not being unfair to re- in anything else.

commend that the time is ripe for yet HEART-BREAKING TASK

another alteration to be made because Take as an example the modern the whole thing is fast becoming soc- centre-forward; his job is heart-cer's biggest bugbear.

a

SOCCER XI FOR

COLONY

Meet H.K.F.A. On

March 26

(By "UBIQUE")

"The registration, therefore, is

not accepted, but an application for, registration at the end of the present season will be considered."

Mangnall did not accept the terms offered by Millwall at the end of last season, and went into business at Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, as a cafe proprietor. He was also engaged, until recently, in forecasting football results for

a newspaper.

On January 2. however, follow- At a meeting last night of the ing a discussion with Mr. Charles

breaking experience, and in case you If some of the erstwhile M'Crackens don't agree with that statement-then could only stand on the terracing for I refer you to the one made by no less a few Saturdays they would soon come League Management, a letter. from Hewitt, the Millwall F.C. manager, an authority than Manager Craig of to the conclusion that the spectators South China was read, stating that Mangnall decided to resign, sub- Falkirk recently. No longer is the hate the idea of the referee's whistle centre allowed to devote his talent to being sounded because a defender of the Straits Chinese Football Clubject to the acceptance of the regis- his true task, because the centre-half defenders, by stepping forward only a would be arriving in the Colony at tration by the Football Associa- acts the part of policeman to him. few feet at the proper moment, with- the end of March on their way to tion.

The third back game practised by out even attempting to play the ball the present-day pivot has practically at times, has placed the opposing at shorn that position of its one-time im-tack at the mercy of the offside rule, portance as an integral part of the at-

PAY TO SEE SOCCER

Manila, where they have been in-

vited.

While in the Colony, the Malayan tacking machinery, and at the same There is a warning in these rum- Chinese are keen on playing at time has prevented the centre-forward blings among the crowd, for, as I have from functioning as a leader in the true already said, they pay to sec. footbal least two games. South China ap- sense of the term. Under modern and not stoppages, of which there ar plied for the necessary permission .conditions of play that, of course it far too many as it is. Most of them to play them on any free date and

seems, is an absolute necessity from of course are inevitable, but that is no

also requested that the Associa- the, centre_half's view-point; it would reason why they should not be kept appear to be suicidal for him to adopt down to an absolute minimum.

tion, if possible, field a team against any other policy, but it is in just a To effect that, a change in the off-them. point like this that I contend there is side rule is again a necessity and while The visitors will arrive here on

;

a contravention of the real spirit of a reversion to the status quo might March 24, and as this was the last against them on Sunday, March 26.

bring about an all-round improvement.

the game.

NOT ONLY PARTY

Rermission was also given Kwong Wall to visit Macao during the Chinese New Year Holidays. Kwong Wah are up to-date with their fix- tures and their absence during the week-end will not upset the sche- dule. They assured the Assocía-

I think the interests of the game would week of League fixtures the Com- The centre half, I hasten to add, is be better served by extending the pre-mittee found that several of the not the only party to this misinterpresent eighteen yards line to the touch-games down for decision would be tation of the real spirit, for it even lines without in any way infringing extends in greater measure to the full on the penalty kick rule and re-ar played before that date. backs, who, despite the change måde iņ‡ranging the rule to ensure that по the offside rule a dozen years or so player could be offside outside that ago to defeat the machinations of erat- eighteen yards line. I feel sure if the while Bill M'Crackens, seem now to be, idea were adopted it would improve the at least in some notable instances, al-game as a spectacle ensuring 48 it most as expert at playing forwards would fewer stoppages, and tion be made to the Council, giv-were chosen for the Interport mat- offaide as the famous Newcastle Unit- would most assuredly have the backing them permission to play here ches, their services would be avail- ed_exponent of yesteryear.

ing of the average soccer well-wisher, and that an Association field tonmlable.

it

ON MARCH 26

It was decided that a recomenda- tion that if any of their players