JOHN BYRNE,
Sir, - Like millions of other people I'm looking forward to seeing the World Cup of "the beautiful game" live on television. Sadly, I will also see a lot of spitting - a disgusting and unnecessary habit.
I'm not aware of so much spitting in other sports. Can you imagine the effect it would have on indoor sports, such as basketball, boxing, even indoor football? The bad example given by footballers spitting regularly during a match is copied by so many. I see children of all ages as they go to and from school spitting on the footpath, the grass and even on board public transport.
I spent nine months in hospital with TB when I was in my early twenties in the 1960s. I remember the doctor who admitted me to the hospital asking me where I thought I had contracted the disease and answering his own question by saying, "Probably someone coughing and spitting!" Now I read reports that TB is on the way back, this time bringing some nasty relations.
I appeal to all footballers to stop spitting. It's a filthy habit, it spreads disease and sets a bad example to all of us. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN BYRNE,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.