In the wake of West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce’s announcement that he has filed a writ against Blackburn Rovers’ Steve Kean, we take a look at other court cases involving footballers and managers – also featuring Liverpool, Leeds United, and Sheffield United.
A spokesman on behalf of West Ham manager Sam Allardyce announced yesterday that he has filed a writ against current Blackburn boss Steve Kean, whom he had hired as first team coach during the former’s managerial spell at Ewood Park after alleged defamatory comments were made on a video released on YouTube.
In a year that has seen John Terry and Harry Redknapp scrutinised in court, we take a look at other high profile cases that have faced the justice system over the years.
Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer
In 2001, former Leeds United players Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer as well as two mutual friends were charged with affray and causing grievous bodily harm following an attack on 21-year-old student Sarfraz Najeib at a Leeds nightclub. Lee Bowyer was cleared of all charges whilst Jonathan Woodgate was found guilty of affray and was sentenced to 100 hours community service. Their friend Paul Clifford was found guilty of both affray and causing grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Steven Gerrard
The England captain was put on trial in 2009 for affray after punching a man at a Liverpool bar. The midfielder admitted punching the man but argued that he was acting in self-defence. He was cleared of all charges but five friends admitted to the same charge of affray.
West Ham vs Sheffield United
Sheffield United took West Ham to the High Court following their relegation on the final day of the 2006/07 Premier League season. The matter in dispute was over Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano’s ineligibility to play in the league that season with the Premier League already having ruled that the two were not eligible to play in the league due to rules concerning third-party ownership. West Ham avoided docked points but were fined a league record £5.5 million.
Sheffield United were relegated on the final day through goal difference due to a 3-0 loss against Aston Villa. West Ham survived for another year thanks to Tevez’s solitary goal in the victory over newly-crowned champions Manchester United. Tevez would move to Manchester United that summer.
The Sheffield club were attempting to sue for £30 million but after several years of litigation, in 2009, the two clubs arrived at an out of court settlement believed to be north of £10 million.
Bosman Ruling
The Bosman Ruling remains as the most fundamental change in the business of football. The ruling meant players were free to leave their clubs at the end of their contracts, which would give rise to eventual ‘player power’. The Bosman Ruling was actually a culmination of three separate cases involving Jean-Marc Bosman and the Belgian FA, his club RFC de Liège and UEFA. The case was a landmark moment in footballing chronology and coined the term ‘Bosman Transfer’, used synonymously with a free transfer.
Do you expect football and the courts continue to be linked over the coming years?
images: © joncandy
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
