Well done, Hearts

I applaud Hearts owner Ann Budge in closing a part of Tynecastle stadium which is synonymous with hooligan and sectarian behaviour in her attempts to stamp out unacceptable conduct at matches.

While most other football executives are procrastinating and looking the other way, not least our neighbours in the west of Scotland, it is reassuring that Ms Budge and her counterpart at Easter Road, Leann Dempster, are doing something to counter this insidious influence which has manifested itself again in Edinburgh football.

I was also hugely impressed while attending the Heartsinverness Scottish cup semifinal at Hampden on Saturday that when two separate groups of mostly young men – I will not call them fans or supporters – began singing sectarian songs, the vast majority of Hearts supporters booed them until they stopped.

This is exactly what decent fans should be doing when this disgusting, archaic practice begins at games.

It is not just the clubs who have a responsibility to stamp out this malignant element but ordinary, decent fans must also do their bit.

D MITCHELL Coates Place, Edinburgh