1959-10-10 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1959.

SATURDAY SPORTS SPOT

The Controversial Subject Of Soccer Substitutions

SPORTING SAM

London Exprem Bervice.

players following the dictum 1

better a goal than a goalkeeper" nud they might shirk the

From Wembley to Wellington.... from Hampden Park to world has at one time or Hongkong... the football another been divided on the controversial subject of sub-physical risk involved in their stitutes.

Probably only the question of State aid for so-called amateur players, the interpretation of the law on obstruction and the general dissatisfaction with the indirect free-kick' have equalled 'substitutes' as a controversial talking point when football folks have got together to discuss and. review the international progress of the game.

The biggest argument against permitting substitutes in com- | petitive matches has been fis vulnerability to abuse by the unscrupulous and the win-at- any-cast boys. That is a pos- albility which cannot be denied. The Irregular substitution of players has caused no end of: trouble in international football and right here in Hongkong we have seen visiting teams make substitutions which

were

blatantly at variance with both the spirit and the object of the

led,

J

Not A Safety Value

Substitution was never in tended as a safety valve for bad team selection, Nellher was li meant as a convenient means of gelling an out-of- form star out of the game and replacing him with someone ela in the hope that the new- comer might do better than the man whose place he has

taken.

The problema has split ad ministrators in thany countries primarily because they have falied Lo And An Infallible means of controlling the sub- stitution rule so as to prevent unfair exploitation.

The original intention behind the substitution idea was to between the preserve equally

By

I.

M. M. MACTAVISH

Nevertheless there was a lot of good Commonsense in the Idea and many of the greatest football minds all over the world have accepted it in principle while reserving their Jigment only on how it could be fairly applied; Theoretically at least the poor old referee has to shoulder the responsibility of deciding when a player is genuinely injured to a degree which Justifies the in- reduction or substitution of a fresh member of the team. The whistler already has to keep close eye on the ball, 22 players, two linesmen, and at least two watches....and yet some folks would force on him the addi- Worl and Imposible role of mrcical magician for few doelers would be able to make a snap decision as to the extent of injury a player has suffered.

No Easy Task

exact sort of situation that the original pioneers of the sub- stitution scheme had in mind when they offered it for con= sideration.

It is generally accepted that goalkeeper, by reason of his role in the game, accepts greater risks than any other player. аге surely few who There

that contention. would dispute Many football folks have long bold the opinion that a team should not be penalized for the of His goalkeeper and couruge

substitute should be allowed if he is injured beyond repair,

that

A

tragedica

At

that

012

Vivid Memories Memories are sul vivid of Coalkeeping Wembley Stadium in the TA Cup Fial. Threo famous Man- chester players--all goalkeepers -Ray Wood and Harry Grogg of United and 'Bert Trautman of City suffered serious injuries and there is te doubt their total or partial incapacity had the greatest influence the game it not on the result.

It may weaken the argument South substitution that The unfortunate thing about | for all this is that it counts against China rose above their handicap on beat Kitcheë. the merits of the absolutely by going genuine case and I found all the That to my mind was merely arguments for and fortulipus but it does not change against substitution racing the principle one little bit Lau through my mind as Lau Kin Kin-cheung was injured-and cheung, South China's clever very obviously injured badly- young goalkeeper was carried carrying out his goalkeeping Under these conditions it from the field at the Hongkong duties in a most courageous way looked a good cheme but right Stadium last Sunday during his and it is surely against every from the start it was deliberate-team's vital league match with lenet of fair play that his team' ly abused and as a consequence Kitches,

should suffer on that account Here, indeed, was the

if it were otherwise we a great deal of hostility "deve- loped.

genuine casé, Altre was the might soon breed a noy race of

An expert practioner would require time to examine the patient before giving a profes- sional diagnosis....and with some of the outstanding actors competing teams. It was not who play rootball today that t Intended as a method of giving no easy task. one side an advantage over the other. In short it was designed identistically as a means keeping football a sporting con- lest between two tearns playing at full strength. This was to be achieved by allowing a fit player to take the place of an- other who had been injured in the course of the game.

of

various

THREE SOFTBALL MATCHES THIS WEEKEND

INDIANS FAVOURED TO BEAT CHEYENNES AND MAINTAIN THEIR UNBEATEN RECORD

By OLLY VAS

Only three softball matches are scheduled for the weekend, the important game between the unbeaten Pandas and the Dodgers having been postponed. However, fans may take consolation in the fact that to supplement the meagre fare served up they will have the chance of seeing a play-off for the Summer League softball title. Robert Remedios' Cheyennes forced a tie for the championship when they beat the American sailors from USS Onslow 6-0 last week behind Dave Malig's superb one-hit pitching. With an array of Senior league talent in the line-up Remedios' team looks like repeating its win and so copping the title on Sunday at 4.00 p.m.

Sunday's programme opens at in the thick of it last season other scalp to their collection. 10.00 am, with a ladies gumo and took merelloss boatings The other Junior match fea- ⚫ between the Squaws and the only to come back for more. tures the "Stardusts and the

Toreros.

to

There should be a great mum- Austers at 2.30. p. Both have

The former bear no relation ber of Belding errors committed yet to win game so there

the

well-known

passing

"sister in this game by both sides and should be more than

the forecast in for the Toreros Interest displayet by players on

team of the Braves a few years back. Instead, coach Bill Stive

and co-gunger Eddie Rozario

to win comfortably because they either alde in the outcome of

at least have had some playing the game.

will be having their hands full, experience.

Dim.

for the girls are all new to the The undefeated Indians after! Admirable Spirit game. The team is made up of last week's showing should stay some young ladies from a local unbeaten, against the Cheyennes The servicemen from Shatin banking house and in this, their in the first of two Junior league have taken some shellackings debut, not too much can be ex-animus to be played off at 11:30 in their time but have always pected of them.

shown an admirable, spirit of The Chorchies got off to a sportsmanship. poor start this' sennoza, med no The Stardusts should win far have impressed on ofte ex-this game without too much op- Dept perhaps their manager. position as they enjoy a décided Fighting spiriş is ondly Incking advantage in both base-running" whereas the fudlans motin to and fekting

Toreros To Win

a

Bilva likes nothing belter than the lies of taking rookie bunah and whipping it up into shaDO-4o, we'll just have to sit back and watch

with some interest the result of his efforts as Mo goog1br. As for the opposition the Toreros are not exactly new to the gains. Comprising mostly of schoolgirls, the ToreroW TYRES

Onsby DISYśpg do rolo · of Klanet Dayacamp's boys, are underdogs, U Unless, both coming along nicely this seDSON, Cheyenne plichern, Viana, sad while the Austers have far Hainet vull up Miele, stoks the been ali up fe "the air where man behina, them will be kept playing strategy le..concerned, bony chwiles after tish ball ill All der all," a THM qularis weak and the outselenekampiona

*********** I**Thiʼators for Kings Park, couns The Indians should add an- mutarei

job.

There is surely a resi case for legislation which would eliminate the possiblity of a alde going through diber long or short part of a game without the specialised **T* vios of their goalkeeper.

Two Goalkeepers?

I have never made any excret of the fact that I dislike the substitution rulo wherein it cover outfeld-players. I have watched it being abused time and agein in different countries and even at the risk of seem- Ing inconsistent I reaffirm my support for those who fight against that aspect of the but I regard last scheme Sunday's incident at the Hong- kong stadium us one more jus

i

The point which is being made is that within our restricted cir- cle there real danger of “a referee being "branded" and consequrally the spectators tend to carry forward the mistakes which he makes one game to the next

I have no doubt that that is absolutely true, Football follow- ers would not be human If it happened any other way. The predisposing circumstances are there: they are not created by the spectators and if it happens that the referee suffers by them It is regrettable but it is not the Jana, oMeinls,

Embarrassment

+

Beg. Wootton

particular performance, I could not help but wonder if he would still have penried the sume story bad be written his letter after in Ipstead of before the game question.

For a "tale-wagger' this week I would like to quote a by ono passage written Joseph Strutt, "When the game becomes exceedingly violent the players kick each other's shins without the least ceremony, and some of them. are overthrown Bí the hazard of their limbs".

or sportswriters who are to blame. It is surely a

to disillusion No, I'm sorry clear case of the circumstances

you Mr Strutt was ant a spec- proving greater than the persoutator at a recent frat division alities involved.

gine. He was in fact a great historian of English sport and he wrote his 'appreciation of 'Since the start of the reason I think I have watched as much footballers conduct away back In 1801. It seems that, in some football as most people and

football has changed I places, have to report that already have soon pone excellent rettle in 153 years!!" Beation for a revision of the terecing and some that was, to lows to permit the adequate re-

say the very least, shockingly placement of an injured goal- poor. In fact I was present at where keeper. In fact, I would go along one frat division game all the way with a recent people in the stand were to dis- French proposal that every turbed by the low standard of selection should the man with the whistle that official team

*Were two goalkeepers in a they

openly expressing Include fotal of 12 players.

embarrassment rather than dis- approval.

There is a wealth of wirdom

that proposal and I hope, with last Sunday's incident sill fresh in their minds, our

Such a situation is bad for The game and ns the whistling me who wrote to local gentlernan

saw this earlier in the week

legislators will turn the possi- bilities over in their minds. The game could profit from a good down to earth approach to the problem.

1

During the course of a week usually get quite a collection of letters from those who follow sport in the colony. Sometimes the letters are interesting: sometimes they contain what is intended to be inside information on all sorts of subjects, and as you would expect there is in- a quola of highly formative communica-

tions to balance the ration

usually unsigned.-- from people who, if not exactly cranks, are cer- tainly radicals.

However, I find that the post- bag la a very useful barometer af public interest not only in this column but in sport gener- ally and I always feel particu- Jurly satisfied when I receive a letter from someone who is well qualified to offer his opinion on some sporting topic.

Football Refereeing

I had one such letter last week on the subject of football reforec- ing in Hongkong and I must confess that as it came from a man who is a fully qualified official I found. It worthy of the clasest consideration.

SPORTRAIT

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? --Accuracy- at 235,497 miles, and you're beaten by a few miserable fect1"

Landon Express Servic

Answers To

Sports Quiz

1. Chicago White Sox.

2. Jim Parks (Sussex), 100 in

01 minutes.

3. Ker Rosewall,

4. World Racing Championship.

Drivers

5. (a) Shooting, (b) Horse-

Facing, (c) Cycling.

8. Jersey Joe Walcolt.

7. There is no limit.

100 metres

One of the major points which this correspondent makes is that our Colony re- féree suffers from bolag soen too often by the same colles- top of fans, officials, and sportswriters with the result. that he is not given a chance 10. to live down bad game £ and when he happens to have j one.

THE

DON'T BE LATE

8.

Denis Compton.

I the kick is unsuccessful, order it to be taken again. If successful award goal.

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by Barry Appleby

THISLL BE THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN. THE START OF A GAME,

AIR-INDIA

You've Gor

Now

A HAIR ON

WHAT

WHITE

YOUR COLLAR

"In EGYPT - the Veil is a thing of the past..) danged is just for you,

oking Problems Solved

GAS