HELEN Blackburn (Letters, February 15), like my good lady wife, abhors the prevalence of spitting during football matches. Though I sympathise with her view, I must confess that I am guilty of such behaviour myself whilst playing football though I have never, to the best of my knowledge, spat in a blatant manner but because I urgently felt the need to do so.

Several studies have shown that vigorous exercise, such as football (even in my case), increases the amount of protein secreted into the saliva, especially a kind of mucus called MUC5B. Apparently this mucus makes the saliva thicker, which makes it harder to swallow, so we are obliged to spit it out.

I agree that it makes for less than pleasant viewing but there are sound biological reasons for footballers' sputum desideratum.

Owen Kelly,

8 Dunvegan Drive, Stirling.

DEAR oh dear. Helen Blackburn is revolted by the expulsion of excess saliva and unwanted phlegm by footballers and managers by spitting during televised matches.

Doubtless she is equally repelled by the old fashioned nose-clearing technique of the thumb on the nostril and blowing, both procedures being necessary to improve breathing. The compulsory use of handkerchiefs would be a genteel solution, but we would then be subjected to endless slow-motion replays and analysis by pundits to decide whether or not the volume of offending matter merited a nose-blowing stoppage. In the meantime, your correspondent could always switch off.

Duncan Macintyre,

2 Fort Matilda Terrace, Greenock.

ASSUREDLY Helen Blackburn is not the only armchair viewer who deplores the anti-social antics in screened football matches. Equally nauseating is the act of players gulping from plastic bottles to then spew their entire intake on the playing surface.

Nowadays sport and in particular football clubs are dependent on income from TV coverage. Match audiences, whether at the stadia or at home, are entitled to better conduct in and around the field of play.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.