TRAFFIC cop Andy Wayland has slammed Sunday league footballers who criticised police for breathalysing them before matches.

In last week's Free Press, footballers said they would have to choose between Saturday nights on the town or the morning games because traffic police were trying to catch them out. They asked police not to lie in wait in the hope of catching players over the limit from the night before.

But in a letter to the Free Press, PC Wayland hit back saying players thought they were "above the law".

"There can be no excuses," he said. "How many of them are fathers? What would they feel like if when they finish their game of football and go home to find their child or wife has been run over, injured or killed by a driver who was perhaps a plumber, decorator, doctor, teacher or even a football player over the drink-drive limit." He pointed to players' abstinence the night before games and urged fans to do the same.

He added: "Traffic police do not enjoy knocking on doors following fatal or injury accidents. Playing football is a game, yes, but driving a car with excess alcohol is not."

Matt Baker, a special police constable who plays Sunday League said it is frightening to know how much alcohol is still retained in the body overnight.

He said: "People don't realise they could be driving a time bomb waiting to explode. I wonder how many teams were short of players due to them being tested positive."

Ian MacFarlaine, captain of Three Horseshoes FC, believes the police would be better off trying to educate players about alcohol intake.

He said: "Why not hand leaflets out or put posters in the changing rooms, telling players how long a certain number of pints takes to get out of their system. After all, if this was the case no-one would have the right to object about being charged."