Sir, — I am not a big soccer fan but I happened to watch and enjoy the Women’s Euro 2022 final on Sunday.
I noticed two significant differences to the men’s game.
There were some very hard and firm tackles and fouls but on nearly all occasions the woman fouled continued with the game immediately, and the team to whom the foul was awarded against continued with no remonstration or aggression towards the referee.
In contrast, in the senior men’s game a routine foul results in an Oscar-level performance of agony and attendant on-field medical support and group prostrations and perusal of the referee by the actor’s indignant fellow players.
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The result is a complete waste of playing time and frustration to the spectator. Quelle difference! — Yours, etc,
AUSTIN FRANCIS
Westport,
Co Mayo.