Picked up and zoomed onto the television screens in our homes and sports bars, the twisted grimaces of the vastly overpaid Premiership players, as they hurl a torrent of abuse at referees, opponents or spectators, do not reflect a picture that football should want to present to the world.The rules need sorting out, and the referee needs to know what to do about improper conduct and how to make it clear to players, crowd and viewers what is happening. We need a new offence: Conduct on the field of play bringing the game into disrepute. Punishment would be banishment to a sin bin - ten minutes at a time off the field. Clarity would be ensured the use of a blue card, carried by the referee in addition to the standard yellow and red cards.Let's get loutish behaviour out of our game and off our football fields.
To recognise and rectify the injustice of Private Farr's and other such cases would not set a bad example to today's soldiers; on the contrary, it would signal the difference between the military leaders of those days and the commanders of today who have a better understanding the men and women under their command.Most importantly, it is not a pardon that is needed, because a pardon is sought for a wrong committed, and when granted, is an act of grace. What these men deserve, belatedly and posthumously, is exoneration.O S UNDERWOODCARLTON-LE-MOORLAND LINCOLNSHIRE A new power to tackle swearing Sir: It is time for an idea to sort out one of the beautiful game's less beautiful aspects. How many of us have felt embarrassment and revulsion at the sight of magical footballers behaving like ignorant, foul-mouthed louts. Practical help is also being given to help St Helena improve its land registry, and land management.St Helena is confident that it can develop a tourism which respects and preserves its heritage and ecology.MICHAEL CLANCYGOVERNOR, ST HELENA Shell-shocked men of the Great War Sir: It would indeed be to the Defence Secretary, John Reid's credit if he showed a different attitude from his predecessor to the case of Private Harry Farr, the shell-shocked soldier shot for cowardice in the First World War (Editorial, 25 October).It has long been recognised that most of those servicemen executed for desertion, cowardice or "falling asleep on duty" did not merit the summary sentence meted out to them. This is why, in addition to the funding of the airport, St Helena is receiving assistance to carry out environmental and social impact assessments, advice on a tourism strategy and marketing and an investor policy.
Moreover, I have become aware, by not smoking, that some beers are better than others. I now go to pubs which serve only "good beers" and, amazingly, I find that I am very happy with smaller quantities of these good beers.BRIAN GREENHORSLEY, DERBYSHIRESir: This summer, my friend died of lung cancer, a few months after diagnosis She had smoked briefly as a student three decades ago. My 19-year-old daughter Eleanor, a student who does not smoke, got a job in a pub after a long search for local work The air in the pub is blue with smoke. Despite what Adrian Durrant says (letter 28 October), Eleanor did not have any real choice. I do not understand why pubs and clubs are not to be treated like any other workplace. I fear for my daughter's future health.JOANNA CARYHENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE St Helena airport will halt decline Sir: The article by Robin Stummer and Daniel Howden, "The Battle for St Helena" (20 October), gave undue weight to a vocal but small minority on the island.St Helena is an island of great charm and dramatic beauty. Its heyday was in time of Napoleon's captivity and of sailing ships.
