Madam, - In response to Helen Carragher's letter of September 10th, there were boos for Zinedine Zidane at Lansdowne Road last week because he was an opponent and a major threat to Ireland.
Having watched football in various countries, I would say soccer fans respect Zinedine Zidane as much as, if not more than, any other player. He is a genius and a player who will be remembered long after he retires.
But in last week's match he was a constant thorn in Ireland's side. His touch, vision and passing was superior to any other player on the pitch. Ms Carragher should rest assured that Zidane would not have been offended, knowing that the boos in essence indicated nothing other than the highest respect. - Yours, etc,
ROWAN McFEELY, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA.
Madam, - Helen Carragher (September 10th) wonders how a genuine Irish soccer supporter could go to Lansdowne Road and boo the sublime Zinedine Zidane.
Perhaps this unsavoury behaviour was a response to manager Brian Kerr's appeal to the fans to give the French team a "hostile" reception. - Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY, Dalkey, Co Dublin.