Sir, – Out for nine matches and a four-month ban for Luis Suarez? If some Dublin youngster bit a tourist on O’Connell Street in full view of CCTV and passersby, he would be arrested, charged, and the book would be thrown at him — “to send a message”. Fifa could have sorted out this undisciplined player two bites ago. – Yours, etc,
HUGO KIERAN
Mulgrave Terrace,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – A case perhaps for the compulsory use of gumshields? – Yours, etc,
TOM GILSENAN,
Elm Mount,
Beaumont,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – The fact that the World Cup trophy is made from gold undoubtedly puts undue pressure on the players. Perhaps Fifa should consider enamel as an alternative. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK JUDGE,
Rochestown Avenue,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Neil Burke-Kennedy (June 24th) wonders who the various teams rely on for divine intervention during this lengthy tournament. One possibility might be Our Lady of Perpetual Soccer. – Yours, etc,
PETER DOYLE,
Dornden Park,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – RTÉ had not yet been conceived and television had not rolled out to our rural area until late 1962. As a result, my first World Cup exposure occurred in 1966. This was going to be England’s year and the mouth-watering prospect of an England vs Germany final, a little over 20 years after the second World War, was almost unthinkable. By kick-off, I knew what every English player was having for breakfast.
These players transcended nationality, creed and any other perceived difference. The subsequent victory and post-tournament newsreels captured the hearts and minds of a large swathe of Irish youths. I parked my hurley, sampled the beautiful game, and was part of a group that, a few years later, met in a pub in Newport, Co Tipperary, to set up a soccer club in the town.
In our wildest dreams, we could not have imagined that one of our heroes, Jack Charlton, would go on to manage the Irish team, plot the defeat of England in “Euro 88”, take us to our first World Cup Finals in “Italia 90” and become a household name and an honorary Irishman. – Yours, etc,
PAT McLOUGHLIN,
Newcastle West,
Co Limerick.