Letters to the Editor

SIR - The punishment handed out to a national footballer for omitting to undergo a routine drugs test - an eight-month ban on top of a £50,000 fine - does seem ridiculous.

Maxine Carr, who was sentenced last week for providing a false alibi for the animal Ian Huntley, will be set free in May fully able, at least in theory, to carry on her life and get a job.

On the other hand, Rio Ferdinand will be unable to work or carry on as normal until August.

Ferdinand would be the first to admit that he made a mistake and should be punished but I am certain he was not expecting to be dealt with in such a harsh manner.

As far as I can see the Football Association has no option but to revise its disciplinary procedures.

On the other hand, it could start hearing very serious criminal cases behind closed doors at a football stadium in Bolton so that we can, at least, look forward to the punishment fitting the crime when our precious children are taken away from us.

John A Hargreaves, Cooper Lane, Horton Bank Top.

Irish memories

SIR - Reading about Bradford's "Mums' Army" patrolling local streets reminded me of a tale my mother told. She was born in 1902 and raised in White Abbey which, at the time, contained a lot of Irish and Italian families.

Fights were regular occurrences between the young men but when the police arrived this usually resulted only in the two sides uniting against a common enemy. The local priests were called, which ended the fighting but the young men hung around like ignited fireworks so an older, wiser priest would fetch very angry Irish Italian mothers.

Dark Catholic threats and the odd gipsy curse were heard in English, Italian and Irish. As the ladies grabbed a piece, any piece, of a son or two and frog-marched them off home, one Irish ma was heard to shout: "Sure, you've brought shame to me entire family. Your da' would kill you if he wasn't outside the pub fighting big Mick Cassidy!"

Ladies, your city needs YOU!

E Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.

Vision needed

SIR - As stated by one of your correspondents, Spain and Poland were the flies in the ointment in the latest EU saga. These two countries were correct in their request for their voting rights; had they agreed to the EU request they would not have a vote that would have been constitutional and after all we are looking at democracy for all.

The suggestion that we can only move forward in the EU when a solution is found that satisfies everyone's national interest and the interest of the whole community is not possible.

Our reps should get wise and conjure up a bit of forward vision. We, the British, cannot have unelected, unaccountable dreamers telling us what to do; we have enough elected ones in the UK doing that.

Where financial exchanges occur between organisations for reasons of business the EU must be the most expensive "con" ever. Just tell us one good thing that the EU has done for the UK for our thousands of billions of pounds contributed.

Derek Wright, Westbury Street, Bradford.

Shut up or go...

SIR - I have lived in Bradford all my life and have seen a lot of changes to the city. People seem to enjoy putting Bradford down, but this city is my home and it hurts me when I hear people talking about it like that.

If they have a problem with Bradford and won't support it then I say leave. But don't say you cannot sell your home as people don't want to live here because it does not ring true.

If you look in the many estate agents' windows, then you will see that the housing market is booming. Bradford is slowly moving out of the long cycle of decline and the next few years will see some great changes for the better.

But if you want to leave and create a better life for yourself in cities like Manchester or Birmingham, which have no crime, litter, vandalism, poverty, racism, drug problems and gangs on the streets, then be my guest.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford.

Good riddance

SIR - After more than 40 years, Bradford is to be rid of the "banana" building on Petergate. Let's hope we do not have to wait another 40 years to be rid of its new "banana" building currently being built opposite City Hall.

Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire.