They weren't even a minute in when Culture Secretary Andy Burnham received a yellow card for fouling his cabinet colleague Ed Balls while playing football video game FIFA 08.
The ministerial head-to-head at the launch of Tanya Byron's report on protecting children from unsuitable games and websites was quickly followed by the pair issuing a yellow card of their own to the internet and video game industries.
"When the internet came along, many people raised a white flag, assuming it can't be regulated, but Tanya's report shows there is a way forward," said Burnham.
Balls, embracing Byron's report in full, added that video games will soon be required to carry the same age ratings as films. But despite The Times' claims of new cigarette-style health warnings on games - which is in fact not the case - Byron's proposals are more measured (see box). The biggest change Byron proposes is how age ratings on video games are handled.
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