Trying to justify Brighton and Hove City Council's apparent unwillingness to curb the nuisance of football on Brunswick Lawns, a spokesman says a ban would mean police officers arresting people "for playing the national game in a public park" (The Argus, December 2).

This ignores the vital point that a public park is for the enjoyment of the public, which is not possible when areas are monopolised by one section of it.

There are public parks for footballers and these are called recreation grounds.

The spokesman is also wrong because soccer is no more our national game than shove-ha'penny.

It may have a larger following and be an obsession for The Argus, Fatboy Slim and Labour politicians, but judging by the performance of many players on and off the pitch and of some of its supporters abroad, it is our national disgrace.

The abuse of Brunswick Lawns was not a problem when Hove was a well-run independent borough before being unhappily merged with Brighton.

-Edward Goring, Ovingdean