The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-08
J0E BOOTH
 TELLS ABOUT
 SOCCER FEUD
By JOE BOOTH.

a local newspaper on Monday even iu-, the Swedish Athletic association takes exception to an article publish ed in these columns last week when the writer published a report that tho Cup committee was to meet and take drastic ac1sns on the Swedish players walking off the field in a State cup tie at the Meadows last sunday week when the Bridgeport City team was met.
 The writer has always held the highest esteom for the Swedish play CTS and has stated so time and again during the season and still has the same opinion as before but when a team starts to break the rules of or ganized soccer, he is bound to criti- else them to full extent
 From tsme to time every team iu the state breaks the rules of organ ized soccer and although at present tho writer Is in perfect harmony with these teams, there were times when the writer took exception to their ac- tions and friction resulted. The writer, however, Is too old q, hand at the game to be sore at every little in cideut that transpires and as long as team plays fair, then the writer will give them the best of praise.
 The Swedish team might have had
 
 State, but why did they not appeal to the State association officially, and later the officials could have straight ened out the matter; instead of that they allow a young manager, hardly out of his teens to dictate to them, and tell them, to leave the field and the players like schoolboys are com relled to abide by his decision. This is what happened at the Meadows a. couple of weeks ago.
 The writer in his story last week stated that the committee was to meet and take drastic actions with the team but the club instead Of waiting for tho Cup committees de- cision took the matter into it's own hands and withdrew from all com petitions of soccer in the state for the remainder of the season. Had the committee taken drastic actions as was expected of them to do, tho Swedish players would have been better satisfied. Instead of that the committee considered the fact tha- the club has been one of the best in the state and instead of meting out a severe punishment, only suspended the manager, who seemed to have control of the players ten years his senior, and made them come off the field. I wonder what would have happened to the team if the players had walked off the field in d National cup tie, the writer as a member of that committee can certainly answer this question, and say, that the Swedish players would have been given a long and severe suspension, but the local committee certainly dealt lenient with them.
 The writer has condemned the FsH1 rr1r r+F field that day, but it would be unfair 10 yours truly to fail to divuIge the good work that the Swedish team has done for the game in this state. The club and the players have certainly had a lot of enemies in the game. but She writer has always held the high est respect for the players, who have from time to time been published in the papers as the best of sports, l arain say the same thing, as the Swedish players are certainly sports and if they only take the advice of wise head instead of a, juvenile, there would not have been the fasco of a couple of weeks ago.
 The writer has been well aware of tha fact that the Swedish team were termed as pro-Germans, this was totally wrong to say as the Swedish players have proved themselves true Americans in every sense of the word; they have taken out Liberty Bonds in large numbers; they have contributed literally to all patriotic causes staged by the State assocfa- lion; they have purchased tickets Ifb- erally; they willingly gave their ser vices free in all patriotic games; they loaned whatever property they had for any patriotic cause; they sold more schooIboy tickets to help the game along than all the other teams in the state together; they proved themselves great and true sports and those who termed them pro-Gerrnar should have thought twice before pass -8g such remarks.
 The team having withdrawn from the International game and the Spring cup competition games ha. certainly hurt the game in this statc but the officials of the state associa. ton have certainly done their bes and have treated the club with al fairuess with matters brought tC their attention. Had the Swedish team done the proper thing they would have finished the game at tho Meadows two weeks ago and the- complained or appealed. They com. plained bitterly about the quality O the referees, but they are the bes tA4tbL "o nave BOt anu ne IS Certa1nl Y 9 good referee that can please al teams. Some of the best players il the state are in the ranks of tho Swedish team and the club can alst boast of some of the hardest workin' officials in the state President Swan son is certainly a, perfect gentle man and in the game for the love o 1t, he has shown a great interest il the team, but he was compelled [, back his manager for his action al though at the bottom of him he wa not in favor of his actions. The Inter national struggle abroad has been tn cause for thN whole trouble but 1 1s to be hoped that ere another sea son rolls around. that the whole diff rerences will have been smoothed ul and that the season will start witt perfect harmony.
 The wrfte- received n letter iron