Letter: Boyo backlash

THANK YOU for Eamon Dunphy. He seems to be the only journalist who has taken an honest and independent line on the Irish World Cup campaign (Sport, 3 July).

The homogenisation of the Irish people into a simple-minded bunch of flag-waving 'boyos' has been a disgrace. As a Scot I have particular sympathy because I remember the same lazy, cliched journalism during the ridiculous Ally MacLeod period. Just as many of us winced then at every idiotic, xenophobic utterance from MacLeod, so there must be many a discerning Irish national not charmed by the boorish Jack Charlton, and his grim philosophy of football.

John Mackay

Blackburn, Lancashire