Madam, - Frank Holohan (July 11th) accuses RTÉ of ignoring the voluntary code on alcohol advertising by placing drink advertisements during World Cup coverage.
The code specifies that no commercials for alcoholic drink should appear in any programme for which 33 per cent of the audience are under 18 years of age. Major sports events do not have a high profile of young viewers. None of the 57 World Cup matches broadcast had a profile of 33 per cent under-18s and the average was in fact 13 per cent. RTÉ Television is committed to limiting the advertising of alcohol to programmes of an adult nature. - Yours, etc,
PAUL MULLIGAN, Head of Operations, Commercial TV, RTE, Dublin 4.
Madam, - I have been an ardent soccer fan all my life. On Sunday, while I celebrated my 54th birthday, I watched in horror as one of footballs's "icons" committed an arrestable offence in front of millions. It is small wonder we worry about the emerging "yob" culture of our youth. At that moment football died for me. - Yours, etc,
FRANK KEANE, Ballyhire, Co Wexford.
Madam, - The referee in the World Cup Final had no choice but to send off Zinedine Zidane. However, was it not obvious that his violence was a reaction, and should not the "victim" of his violence also have been red-carded for ungentlemanly conduct?
It is time that referees in all contact sports punished the instigators as well as the perpetrators of violent acts. Who has brought soccer into more disrepute, Zidane or his tormentor? - Yours, etc,
CONOR CARR, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.