Will banning the over-70s from football matches beat the coronavirus?

I CANNOT believe the proposal to ban over 70-year-olds at sports events in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus. First, discrimination comes to mind. Second, people of all ages suffer from respiratory problems. If people are going to get the virus, they will get it, regardless of age or sex. The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-20 did not discriminate and killed more people worldwide than soldiers fighting in World War I. The over-70s who are healthy (and so less at risk) are the ones who are likely to go to sporting events; it’s the ones in nursing homes who are at risk.

MRS THERESA LIVINGSTONE, Burnley, Lancs.

YOUNG boys used to borrow their older brother’s ID to buy drinks. Now grandads will borrow their son’s ID to see the football.

DEREK TRAYLER, Hornchurch, E. London.

DOES this plan mean anyone who is 69 is OK to attend football matches? Germs are far more likely to be

transferred on buses and trains and in cinemas, pubs and clubs. Perhaps us old fogies over 70 should just form an orderly queue at the graveyard and wait for the virus to strike.

DEREK MONCUR, Norwich.

HAVING watched the Manchester derby on Tv, I was disgusted to see both United and City officials standing on the side lines and in the ‘technical’ area spitting constantly, the worst offender being the Manchester City manager. The fa should be giving advice to teams. DEREK GARNSWORTHY, Tiverton, Devon.

I THINK the idea of playing football matches behind closed doors to slow the spread of the virus is way over the top. All one has to do is ban away fans, so the risk of the virus moving around the country is lowered, and close all bars and food outlets in stadiums. Supporters will then simply turn up, sit in their seats for a couple of hours, watch the game, then leave, with the chance of spreading the virus much lower than when away fans use public transport or go to bars and nightclubs.

KEVIN COLEY, Leicester.

WAS I hearing things when the Premier League and EFL announced pre-match fair Play handshakes would be forbidden during the coronavirus outbreak? The players would then go on to spend 90 minutes slipping, falling and diving in the spit liberally sprayed all over the pitch by their fellow players — but that’s no problem, apparently. What a nation of snowflakes we have become.

RON SIMPSON, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

WITH pre-match handshakes being banned, does this also mean the end of the goalscorer diving along the pitch and his team-mates then jumping on him, kissing and hugging, often with his shirt off? Get the ball on the centre spot and get cracking again.

KEN THORPE, York.