I refer to your leader entitled Why, Zizou? (TMID, 11 July) specifically to the opinion that “winding up opposition players is part of the game” (in reference to Materazzi).

Kindly allow me to disagree. Verbal abuse is by its very nature hostile, abusive and violent and should not form part of civilised behaviour or a game nor should it be a characteristic of a good role model for children.

Dunstan Attard

St Paul’s Bay