Premiership football has been criticised for providing a bad example to children, especially after the recent brawl between two players from the same team.

ePolitix.com asked Stakeholders for views on the issue.

Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Dr Mary Bosuted, ATL's general secretary, said: "You cannot airbrush out bad behaviour, whether on the part of politicians or footballers. 

"The most important thing about Saturday's incident is that [Newcastle United captain] Alan Shearer condemned it.  This is the role model that people want to follow as they stressed that fighting leads to nowhere."

Stakeholder Response: 4Children

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said: "It is obviously very disappointing to see two football players, especially those on the same team, having a brawl in front of 50,000 fans and on national television.  Many children look up to these players as role models, and displaying such a violent reaction to a disagreement is sending them completely the wrong message about how to deal with anger and confrontation.

"In the coming days, many teachers and childcare workers may find themselves having to deal with youngsters acting out this now infamous scene in the playground or after school club.

"However, just because children see two footballers punching each other on the field does not automatically mean that they will assume this is the right way to deal with their own anger. Unfortunately, violence is a part of our society, and children need to be supported to take control of their own actions and make sensible decisions for themselves.