A war against the core values of sport

The terror attack in Lahore was aimed at destroying the core values represented by sport,and were an attempt to sabotage the spirit of unity and joy the game brings to fans around the globe, writes Simon Barnes in the Times.

Theirs is a war against joy, a crusade against union, a jihad against humanity. After the terrorists — brave souls prepared to risk a battle against men with cricket bats while armed only with rifles and rocket launchers — made their attack on the Sri Lanka team, we have to wonder if big-time sport will become a worldwide target. If so, sport as we know it will be changed for ever. Big sporting events as we know them will no longer be feasible.