I HAVE, during the last few days, listened to and read much about Chris Sutton's 'questionable' action at Arsenal last weekend.

I think, if I had not been watching football in all its shades for upwards of 60 years, I would have laughed.

By and large I have enjoyed the better class of player now to be seen in the Premiership.

I have not however, enjoyed the better class of cheating which appears to coincide with the influx of foreign players.

However, the underhand ducking and diving, trying to get opponents booked or sent off, the blatant shirt tugging, and the use of elbows is condoned by referees.

The so-called code of conduct which requires players to concede possession when injuries occur came in two or three years ago. I thought it 'quaint' if not hypocritical in the light of all the above.

Because of all this, I think it unlikely that I will renew my ticket for next season.

Since my protest is by no means directed at Blackburn Rovers especially, I think it a pity, since both they and I will in many respects be the losers.

Perhaps, in my naive mind I am hoping that some brave soul will take some meaningful action to control all the dishonesty mentioned above. Even if the referee spots the cheat, he is seldom punished, even though the rules allow for it.

I seem to remember the phrase 'ungentlemanly conduct' being associated with soccer. What happened to it.

Heaven forbid we take on board Alex Ferguson's comments about having to learn all the clever tricks tried on Manchester United in order to succeed in Europe.

JIM DUCKWORTH, Willows Lane, Accrington

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.