SIR: The hypocrisy of David Mellor on BBC Radio, on March 30, and Sports Minister, Tony Banks, the next day, in defence of their sport, football, is in stark contrast to their outrageous criticism of pistol shooting, a sport which has been an Olympic event for more than a 100 years. Football, of course, has not.

How many people have to die before this sport is banned. As if Hillsborough and Heysel weren't enough, then we had another death at Gillingham where a fan was stabbed to death after a match. Every life is precious irrespective of age. From the Master of Over Reaction, (Tony Blair), we have a plea not to over react. Is he really saying that the British public's tolerance of how many people die in connection with a sport, is dependent on the popularity of that sport.

The deaths at Hungerford and Dunblane did not take place at a sporting event. Hillsborough, Heysel, and then Gillingham did. When can we hope for an even-handed, thoughtful and rational approach to these situations?

Name and

address supplied.

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