Sports reportage
Notwithstanding my high esteem for this paper, I wonder whether it's right that a share of your readers feel to be the object of a sort of distinction's attitude. I refer to your sports news pages, totally under control of the English press and made at the wear and tear of the English and pro-English readers. I could list innumerable examples as proof of my statement's legitimacy but, in short, I'll make reference to some of the last days' issues.
Sunday, April 6: Although on Saturday many interesting matches had been played, the only thing we could find in your sports pages was a report dealing with the bombastic undertakings of English teams with a particular regard to Manchester United. What about matches played by other European teams?
Monday, April 7: We have been obliged to put up with an additional dissertation about Manchester United's defeat with the "aggravating circumstance" of a strange reference between what Diego Maradona did in 1986 and what a certain Wanchope did the day before. For sure, soccer doesn't represent the strong point of an English reporter. To make a connection between Maradona and whatever other player, sounds like a "sports blasphemy". Anyway, what about the remaining European Championships? Only a few lines about German, Spanish, and Italian Leagues.
Tuesday, April 8, page 12: Finally we have been able to find a five-column hodgepodge of news, dealing with the results of the European soccer leagues. Same day, on page 13: A three-column report was devoted to a match between Leicester and Middlesbrough. In proportion, I wonder how many pages should be reserved for matches played between teams like Monaco, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Ayax, Barcelona, Juventus and so on.
I don't want to go into the merits of the real value of different European leagues, since everybody is able to judge by himself. What I intend to say is that all your readers, apart from their nationalities, should have the right to be taken on the same account and not to be divided into two categories: the English or pro-English ones and the rest of the world.
PIERO RONCI
Jakarta