Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-02-13
SPORTS
Y. NJ. e. A. Kick
Not Allowed
By League

At the meeting of the Hawaiian
Association Football League, held
yesterday afternoon in the Scottish
thistle Club rooms, the protest
against the decision of Umpire Fid-
dcs in last Saturdays contest be-
tween the Y. NJ. G. A. team and the
| Diamond Heads was disallowed. a
large number of enthusiasts of the
game were present at the meeting
and the discussion concerning the
protest, which reads as follows, was
at some times very warm:
Honolulu, r. H., Feb. s, 1908.
| The Hawaiian Association Football
League, Mr.. b. i. BeardmOre,
Secretary.
Dear Strive beg to protest the
game that was played this afternoon
between the Diamond Head Athletic
| Club and the Y. NJ. c. A. teams. The
grounds of the protest are as follows:
| The free kick which led up to the
Vcoring of the only goal scored, which
won the game. should never have
been allowed. and In support of the
protest we quote the following rule
from the Handbook of the Football
Associations: Law Nine; subject,
hands-"Cases of handling OF the
ban may so happen as to be consid-
cred unintentional, and when this Is
so, no penalty must be awarded"
Also. under Instructions to Refer
ees-"Note the important fact that
# Is the intentional breach of law
which must be punished"
The official referee. Saturday, Feb.
| q hE a tnt
wards declaring that he thought 1t
was unintentional, and under these
circumstances we ask that the game
played this afternoon be declared void
land the match be replayed.
Yours truly,
G.. WATERHOUSE,
Secretary. Y. NJ. c. A. Association
Football Team.
Referee Fiddes had the following
answer prepared and submitted II to
1.-THE Association.
ITO the President and Officers, liza
waiian Association Football
Club.
Gentlemen: --RegardIng the pro-
test filed by the captain or the Y. NJ.
G. A. team over the result of my de-
cision in Saturdays game with the
Diamond Heads, | wish to make the
following statement of facts:
While there may have been some
doubt in my mind as to the ofTense
being intentional, there was abso-
lutely not shadow of doubt as 10
there being an infringement of tho
rules as | interpret them. and II was
only after quick action that ! consid.
cred a free kick the proper penalty
under the circumstances.
am willing to admit that while
the rules again and again reiteratC
that It Is the intentional breach oi
the law that must be punished, II Il
sometimes very hard to decide on the
spur of the moment whether certain
infractions are intentional or not.
You will all doubtless agree will
me that the referee is the sole judge
of this, and his decision must be rem
dered promptly without rear or IA
vor.
Personally, | am of the opinion
that there is an unwritten law tina
a referee has discretionary power
vested In him at all times during tn,
progress of n game, on troublesome
questions arising, to rcnCer decis
ions which he may deem proper AM
just to the best of his knowledge ant
4 Interpretation of the laws governing
the game.
lie must also consider the trivial
ity or seriousness of the nature of tn
offense and the direct results emana
| ting therefrom.
Were this not so, how many so
called accidental cases OF handlin
! the ball to avert danger, by defend
ing side, would be allowed to go SEQ
tree, on the pretense that ut is tn
intentional breach of the law tina
must he punished"
In the particular case In ques
ton. the handling of the ball by Mac
connel whether Intentional or unir
territorial | am not prepared to say
he alone knOws) gave him an oppol
. tunity to play the ball and clear HI
lines, which | positively assert an
now assure you he would not haV
4. l. 4 A = IL.