Sir, There is no doubt David Ginola is a fantastically gifted footballer, but he is also a cheat. He does not cheat the paying public - we can still enjoy his brilliance - he cheats his fellow professionals. There seems to be an acceptable level of this in professional football which we call "gamesmanship" - I was always of the opinion that Mr Ginola went beyond this. However, the decision by the members of the Professional Footballers' Association to elect him as their Footballer of the Year has condoned his behaviour.

No longer will I feel a sense of injustice when he dives, and no longer will I listen to a player who complains about his diving With this award they have legitimised his actions TIM LAKEN, Rayleigh, Essex.. Sir: I was overwhelmed by the interview with Mr Souness (Souness unmoved at mock farewell, 27 April). It was a testimony full of misinterpretations of what has really been happening at Benfica over the past 18 months. I am a Portuguese supporter of Benfica and cannot help writing to you to say that every excuse Mr Souness made is a bad one. Basically, he is the only one responsible for all the negative results Benfica have had lately. It is relevant to note that he has never acknowledged his mistakes although he is assumed to be a person of harsh self-criticism, if you can believe that.Mr. Souness knows nothing about tactics in football; he cannot read a match from the coach's viewpoint; he makes the most astonishing substitutions; he cannot make the most of the best players; he is overprotective with all the English players when he has better ones to line up; he has put some key players in the wrong positions; he has started every match with a different team.It is because of this that Benfica supporters cannot stand him; it is because of this that no one feels like going to a football match as they know that their team could be lined up in a better way; it is because of the apathetic style that Mr Souness has imposed on our football that we feel tired of him.But about this Mr Souness says nothing, instead criticising Benfica and our players.

All I am afraid of, now that I know that he has been sacked, is what can kind of heritage will he leave us? I keep remembering the words of a Liverpool supporter who told me that the Reds are still paying today for all Mr Souness' mistakes when he was there.CARLOS CEIA,Lisbon, Portugal. Sir: Last week Tony Banks, the minister for sport, called for a united British football team. He gave reference to Scotland's failure to make the last stages of the World Cup and England failing at finding that extra push in the final stage, with the immortal line, "As Britain they would win it." With campaigning in the Scottish Parliament under way, the argument for no change based on national sovereignty is obvious. But what is less clear is which players does Banks foresee as joining the team? Would he turn to the creative skills of Scott Gemmill, replacing the workhorse David Beckham? Or perhaps, the lethal finishing of Billy Dodds in place of Alan Shearer? What a mouthwatering prospect. Maybe Tony Banks doesn't like football.GARY JACOB,St Catherine's College.. Sir: Could I suggest a modification to the splendid Uefa rule that will allow the fairest team from the fairest league an entry to the Uefa cup as whipping-boys? I propose that this be extended so the reverse applies - the dirtiest team that would otherwise qualify for European competition on merit would be excluded. Not sure of the current stats, my guess would be one of little endorsement of my idea from M Wenger.MIKE TAYLOR,Royal Leamington Spa,Oxford..