Should footballers’ goal celebrations be banned?

I CONDEMN the stance taken by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola over the flouting of Covid rules by professional footballers. He said: ‘We will follow what the Premier League says, but I don’t know if we will be able to do it.’ I am dismayed at this smug, complacent attitude.

J. METLISS, Littlehampton, W. Sussex.

I HAVE not been able to see or hug my 99-year-old father for a year because of Covid restrictions. I cannot describe the sadness and frustration this has caused. So imagine my anger when I see professional footballers ignoring the Covid rule not to hug. It is time every player breaking this rule was issued with a penalty notice by police – and a red card.

PAUL LEWIS, Edinburgh.

I HAVE a MSc in human behaviour and believe complaints about the breaching of social distancing by footballers are irrational and illogical. Criticising goal celebrations would make sense only if the rest of the game was adequately socially distanced. But just witness players jostling for position in the six-yard box during a corner kick. Any attempt to penalise or proscribe relatively rare goal celebrations is merely tokenistic. It panders to a misplaced sense of injustice and envy felt by those without an outlet for their frustration and isolation. Either allow the behaviour, as it is insignificant in the wider context of the match, or cancel professional football.

PETER HEWKIN, Worksop, Notts.

PREMIER League coaches fear they lack power to stop players breaching Covid restrictions during goal celebrations. I know how to stop them: disallow the goal.

WARREN HOLT, Carlisle, Cumbria.