FIFA's ruling over goal scoring celebrations would appear on the face of it to be trivial.

I can quite understand the adulation generated by players and football supporters alike.

To be worshipped like Greek Gods at the Spartan Games is not without its merits.

However the modern phenomenon of players congratulating each other with moments of passion and acrobatic displays is beyond my comprehension.

Consider the implications when players having scored a goal then resort to jumping all over each other and enveloped in a mass of bodies on the pitch, the scorer subjected to limited movement and short of breath, or worse consequences.

Some of these footballers especially in the Premiership are already treated like thoroughbred race horses and just as valuable in financial terms, commanding high wages to boot, paid for by supporters and the like.

I would hazard a guess that some of their antics could be called into question, when it comes to receiving injuries not sustained by their opponents. Participation is one thing to be mobbed is another. What happened to the old-fashioned handshake or pat on the back?

Managers, board of directors and insurance companies must be shaking in their boots in case their team scores.

Curbing these over-enthusiastic displays may allow supporters to watch more of their idols on the field of play, instead of the subs bench.

Keith Bowker,

Vesper Walk,

Huntington,

York.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, January 26, 2006