Sports Letter: Dirty teams should play short-handed

Sir: If football's powers that be are genuinely determined to stamp out foul play, the solution seems simple.

If a team has a player suspended for a game then it should have to play that game with 10 players. If it has two players suspended, it should turn out with nine players and so on.

Managers would soon learn to place a premium on players who can play the game AND keep it clean. A side benefit for the fans might be to see an 11-man Middlesbrough or Derby side have a clean game against a seven- man Arsenal. Could be fun.

HUGH CRONIN,

Ystradmeurig, Dyfed