The Who are the wrong Superbowl choice

A CHILD welfare organisation in the US has slammed the NFL's decision to let The Who play the Superbowl halftime show.

The legendary British band will perform at the interval of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV halftime show in Miami, Florida on February 7th.

The annual game is the biggest date in the American sports calendar.

But speaking to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, ChildAbuseWatch.net said while it had no problem with the band, its only objection was that guitarist Pete Townshend - who was arrested and cautioned by police in 2003 for accessing child pornography - performing with them.

Founder and chief executive officer Evin Daly said: "The Who is a great band. Pete Townshend is the only issue here."

But speaking to the Associated Press, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said despite the protests, the band would still be playing the halftime show.

He is quoted as saying: "UK police cleared him since he was doing research for a project on child abuse."

Townshend was cautioned and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years after he admitted using his credit card to look at a paedophile website for research into child abuse.

He was cleared on a separate charge of possessing indecent pictures downloaded from the web.