IT IS the letter which sparked a massive debate.

Siobhan O’Rourke’s letter detailing her frustrations at songs containing “foul swear words” was published in the Echo yesterday.

She also raised concerns filthy songs would be sung at St Mary’s this weekend as Southampton FC take on Liverpool FC.

The letter sparked a huge wave of interest online, with hundreds having their say within a few hours.

And now more leading figures within the community have had their say on whether more should be done about swearing during football matches.

Ms O’Rourke’s concerns are about songs she believes will be directed at former Saints’ player Virgil van Dijk, who will be returning to the south coast for the first time since completing his £75m move to Liverpool last month.

She believes he will become the latest ex-player to have explicit chants aimed at him, following the likes of Dejan Lovren who also was targeted by fans.

“For the third year running, having paid £36 to attend the game (via my season ticket) I will not be there because I am not willing to listen to songs that include the most foul swear word – the ‘C’ word – directed at Liverpool players,” she wrote.

MP Royston Smith, who represents the Southampton Itchen constituency, believes if fans are unhappy with the language they can use other parts of the ground such as the family area.

He said: “I have seen it first hand in the Northam stand where people become aggressive and chant at players and fans, so I understand exactly what the letter writer is saying.

“I feel a lot of responsibility should lie with the players on the pitch.

“They seemed to be allowed to swear and be aggressive and this filters to the fans who are watching.

“But if someone is concerned by the language they should move to another section of the crowd.”

Season ticket holder Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, watches from the Kingsland stand. He said: “In my experience the language is clean where I sit but I couldn’t say it’s perfect.

“There is no place for foul, abusive language at football grounds, although things can become heated due to an occasion such as football.

“There is an element of self-policing because when someone steps out of line people will say something to them especially when children are around.

“It’s a joint responsibility among the fans to ensure that standards are kept.”

Nick Illingsworth, editor of forum The Ugly Inside, feels the language at games could be cleaned up.

Mr Illingsworth said: “What’s really not acceptable is the mass chanting that is likely to happen when we play Liverpool on Sunday, where you have 3,000 people swearing in a song. This could be picked up on television and children could hear this.”

He added: “Ultimately we shouldn’t worry about other players, we should be getting behind our team.”

At the time of publication Southampton FC had not responded with a comment.