TWO stories in The Northern Echo caught my eye last week.

Firstly, Sunday League goalkeeper Liam Johnson faces a lifetime ban from football for assaulting a referee, while Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew gets a mere two-match touchline ban for a similar offence (Echo, Sept 5).

Of course, Johnson’s assault was far more serious, but Pardew’s was witnessed by millions around the world on TV.

Plus, Pardew is a role model to many young fans and is meant to be setting the right example to his players.

The FA, with its Respect campaign, should have made an example of Pardew and given him a far greater punishment. A six month ban would have sent out the right message and may have made grass roots players like Johnson think again in the future.

Secondly, I was very disappointed to read that your esteemed editor subscribes to Sky television (From the Editor’s Chair, Sept 4).

I cancelled my subscription many years ago, around the same time I stopped reading any of Rupert Murdoch’s so-called newspapers, so I am amazed someone in Peter Barron’s position has not done the same.

Having witnessed at first hand the damage Murdoch has caused the newspaper industry as a whole, Mr Barron should be making a positive stand against him – not helping to line his pockets.

Ricky Butler, Darlington.