comercrawley solicitors

18.08.2008

£4.5 million award for Manchester United footballer whose career was ended by reckless tackle

A former Manchester United footballer has been awarded over £4.5m in compensation by the High Court after a reckless tackle ended his promising playing career.

Ben Collett, 23, was playing in a Manchester United reserve game in 2003 against Middlesbrough, when he broke his leg. Liability was admitted by the Middlesbrough player, Gary Smith, and his club.

A sum of £4.3 million was awarded to Collett by Mrs Justice Swift at London’s High Court, although she said the final sum was unlikely to be less than £4.5m. The total compensation is to be determined at a hearing in October when sums for future loss of pension and interest on past loss of earning will be taken into consideration

Mrs Justice Swift went on to say that if it had not been for the injury, Collett would have been offered a three-year professional contract with Manchester United. The club’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, had earlier described Collett as an ‘outstanding’ player.

Emma Crawley of Comer Crawley is a specialist in sports injuries and especially those involving footballers.

‘The case of Ben Collett serves to emphasize that we’re dealing with a sport and a sport like any other which has its rules,’ she insists. ‘They are there for the smooth running of the game and the safety of the participants, and that applies whether the sport is professional or just a kick about on the park.

‘Anybody who takes part in a sport has the right to believe that his opponents will play it according to the rules and take proper care not to endanger his or her health or career.

‘It’s quite wrong to believe that outright aggression and reckless behaviour is acceptable in sport while it would never be tolerated in other walks of life. None of us has the right to put at risk another’s wellbeing.

‘Competitors have responsibilities to each other as much as any of us do. Most competitors wouldn’t need telling that, but where somebody’s reckless or dangerous behaviour leads to catastophe for somebody else then we all have to accept responsibility for our own actions. ‘The amount of damages awarded sounds a lot but only represents what is likely to have been Collett’s lost earning potential.’

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