Sports Letters: The bad shepherd

Sir: So often we see a footballer shepherding the ball over the byline and in so doing preventing an opposition player reaching the ball. More often than not a defender is guilty of blatant obstruction, but the referee rarely gives a free-kick against the offender. Why do the officials more often than not turn a blind eye against what is obviously a breach of the rules?

Yours sincerely,

A WILDER

Hatfield

3 April