That May Be a Yellow and a Red for Grahame

It’s not easy to be a soccer fan and an L.A. Times reader at the same time. First, The Times’ coverage of the world’s No. 1 sport ranges from skimpy to nonexistent. Second, when The Times deigns to report on soccer, the byline invariably reads Grahame L. Jones, a sports journalist of no particular distinction.

Jones may like to see players dumped and bumped, but many of us want more offensive action, more shots on goal and we won’t get either if defenders are allowed to mug the strikers.

Huh? says Mr. Jones, pretending not to understand the FIFA rule. Duh! is a more appropriate response. The rule is no mystery. If you tackle from behind, but make no contact with the ball, you will be carded, yellow or red, depending on the severity of the hit.

It’s a damned good rule, much needed in a sport in which thuggish behavior in the stands is justly condemned but in which such antics are prevailing all too often on the pitch.

FRANK O. GATELL, Santa Monica

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Grahame Jones, you write strikingly well, especially for a sportswriter, but your current overemphasis on the international game to the exclusion of the Galaxy and MLS leaves much to be desired. The controversy over new rules mandating expulsions for tackles from behind is interesting, but it’s not that interesting. I get tired of having to stumble through La Opinion with a Spanish dictionary to find out what’s going on with my favorite team.

CHRISTOPHER WILHELM, Los Angeles