Is racism in football driven by politics?

GARY NEVILLE has linked the racist incident during the Manchester derby — where a fan allegedly made abusive gestures towards United players — to the current political climate. No individual has a licence to abuse or assault another because of their colour, religion, culture or political views. Unfortunately, football hooliganism has been with us for decades and idiots will be idiots, either by nature or when pumped up by alcohol consumption. I would just say that immigration was a legitimate topic for discussion during the General Election campaign. Boris Johnson is not the cause for what happened at the Etihad stadium.

CHARLES SAVILLE, Swindon, Wilts.

THE idiots who abuse black players at football grounds should be given ringside seats at the next world title heavyweight fight. Let them hurl abuse and make gestures to Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder, and then see how clever they are then.

C. VAUGHAN, Southampton.

TO SUGGEST, as Gary Neville did, that the political climate has encouraged racial abuse is rubbish. Sadly, name-calling has been happening at football matches for years. Stewards are too frightened to intervene.

PAUL GILBERT, Knowle, Warks.

I HAVE been a Manchester United supporter since the pre-Busby Babes days. I think Gary Neville was one of the best right fullbacks in England since the war, but he was way out when he laid the blame for racism in football on the rhetoric surrounding immigration.

PHIL BROWNE, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.