Sports letter: Shirt tempered

Sir,

When are the authorities going to do something about the increasing number of incidents resulting from shirt-pulling in football? This odious form of foul play was prevalent throughout this year's World Cup and seemed to be dealt with in different ways by different referees.

Players seem to think it is less of an offence to pull an opponent's shirt than it is to tackle from behind or commit other offences. Referees must consistently clamp down on shirt-tugging before it is too late. Nor should they forget that it was just such a foul by Wim Jonk on Patrick Vieira that started the whole Di Canio incident.

GERARD HUNT

Hemel Hempstead,

Herts