Steff Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050603/od_nm/...DJlYmhvBHNlYwM- LONDON (Reuters) - British prosecutors Friday considered whether professional sportsmen, especially soccer players, should face an increased risk of criminal prosecution for violent conduct committed during matches. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was hosting a conference to consider whether it was right that police rarely took action against sportsmen despite high-profile incidents such as players brawling in front of thousands of fans. "We have no hesitation in prosecuting spectators who attack players but there is a feeling that we are too tolerant about violence among players themselves," said Nazir Afzal, a CPS director in London. "For many, sport is a means of getting rid of their aggression and we would never think about 'Disneyfying' it, but there is now growing concern about where the boundaries lie between what's sporting and what's criminal activity." Soccer and rugby players are among the greatest offenders, where opponents are often caught on camera trading punches. Violence rarely leads to prosecutions although Everton and Scotland striker Duncan Ferguson was given a three-month jail term in 1995 for headbutting an opponent when he played for Rangers. But usually police and the CPS have left it up to sporting authorities to deliver punishments for on-field incidents. Former England rugby union player Neil Back was banned for four weeks last month after he lashed out at an opponent and split open his lip during the English Premiership final. In 2002, a member of parliament wrote to police demanding they prosecute Manchester United's Roy Keane after he admitted in his autobiography he had deliberately set out to injure Manchester City player Alf Inge Haaland. The police took no action but the English Football Association fined and banned him for five matches. Calls for tougher action to be taken against soccer players have grown after some ugly scenes during live games last season. Manchester United and England teenage striker Wayne Rooney provoked a storm for repeatedly swearing at a referee during one televised match, prompting one leading education figure to blame soccer players for children's bad behavior in schools. The CPS said it now wanted to produce clear guidelines so police and prosecutors knew exactly when to act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 One post will suffice: Yahoo Odd News Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted June 3, 2005 Author Share Posted June 3, 2005 As usual... :dips*** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 3, 2005 -> 09:37 AM) As usual... :dips*** Maybe I missed the "dips***" smiley? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted June 3, 2005 Author Share Posted June 3, 2005 QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Jun 3, 2005 -> 09:39 AM) Maybe I missed the "dips***" smiley? Look here.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 3, 2005 -> 09:41 AM) Look here.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalapse Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Jun 3, 2005 -> 09:45 AM) It's a mirror, how do you not get that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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