Many readers may be shocked and appalled at news of a proposal to slaughter a cow at every 2010 World Cup venue by South African cultural organisation, The Makhonya Royal Trust.

Animal group Viva! are calling on international football governing body FIFA to bring an urgent halt to the plans, which would form a so-called 'blessing ritual'.

Permitting the 'cultural ceremony' which would involve slicing the throat of a cow with a knife or an assegai, would be nothing short of a barbaric and abhorrent celebration of animal cruelty.

UK law states that animals must be stunned before they are killed in an abattoir, but this proposal would see cows being killed without any pre-stunning, a practice which has been scientifically proven to cause severe pain and distress.

I sincerely hope that World Cup organisers will take a united stand against any animal sacrifice, which would also set a very concerning example to millions of people following the event, that such behaviour is acceptable and justified in the name of culture.

Viva! opposes all slaughter and promotes vegetarianism as the only truly effective way to prevent animal suffering.

For more information about our campaign against animal slaughter, visit www.viva.org. uk/campaigns/ritual_slaughter.

Helen Rossiter Viva! Campaigns York Street Bristol