By Carys
June 9 2005

From an outsiders point of view (and that’s not being an insider at a football club) I think that any physically violent behaviour ON the pitch should be treated as it would be OFF the pitch

 

Purely because it’s not a boxing ring where the aim of the game is to fight – its football and if that’s how you want to behave you have chosen the wrong sport, however only if it gets too out of hand.

 

With Lee Bowyers brawl on the pitch with Kieron Dyer some months back legal officials have been looking into the possibility of pursuing the offence as it were in the courts, where indeed an assault would usually be dealt with.

 

Just because many footballers believe they are above the law (and it’s been proven with Rio landed several speeding fines and getting away with paying pennies) it does not mean they are. They should have no more (or less) rights than you or I and should be treated no differently – even if that means being banged up in a cell for the night. In some respects it would appear that Bowyer is being made an example of, his 'crime' wasnt an assault as such but heat of the moment and yes the FA have dealt with it.

 

This has been confirmed by the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) who announced

 

"Criminal behaviour will not be tolerated on the football pitch. People assume that we don't prosecute famous people. But we have and we will.”

 

So now Bowyer believes he was the victim of a witch hunt by the police and is to seek a judicial review of the decision to prosecute him whilst his solicitor posed the question would it be in the public’s interest? Some regard it as being in the publics interest from the point of view that youngsters look up to superstar footballers and see them fighting they will copy, not setting an example etc etc. However from the point Bowyers solicitor is making it would be that many different costs would need to be taken into consideration and taxes for the case will be at the expense of the public.

 

So overall it would be less damaging all round if the case is dropped. 

 

His agent was quoted saying

 

"I have spoken with the player, his agent and the PFA. It is our intention to have this decision to prosecute reviewed judicially in the High Court as we have very real concern that it has been made for political reasons, rather than legal ones."

 

Whats your opinion on the matter? - Should players of all sports (not just football) be left to their own devices and ruled by the sports governing body or should there be police intervention in more extreme cases? Once an example is made of a player anymore incidents will have to follow suit or it could be discrimination?