Personal injury news

Footballer ordered to pay 20,000 after breaking opponent's leg

A Sunday League footballer has been left with a personal injury compensation bill of nearly 20,000 after breaking an opponent's leg during a match.

Firefighter Stuart Matthews was taken to court by injured Matthew Rollason following a tackle during a match in March 2002. A judge at Bristol County Court ordered Mr Matthews to pay more than 11,000 in damages and over 7,000 in costs, ruling that he deliberately injured his opponent with a two-footed tackle.

Captaining Cheltenham and Gloucester Sunday League team Real Hatherley, 30-year-old Matthews was playing against Rollason's FC Arle when the incident occurred. He claims it was an accident but was contacted by personal injury solicitors a year later and told that he was being sued.

The aggrieved fireman said, "I had phone calls from his solicitors saying the insurance wouldn't cover me because it wasn't an accident and it doesn't cover deliberate acts. But it wasn't deliberate and this type of injury occurs without intent all the time in local football."

Manager of Real Hatherley, Nik Bennett, slammed the judge's decision, saying, "A lot of people are very angry. Stuart went in one-footed and collided. We may fold the club. If this can happen I'm not sure I want to play."

Issuing a statement following news of the personal injury compensation ruling, a Gloucestershire Football Association spokeswoman said, "Clubs are advised to take out personal accident insurance which would cover players against injuries like broken legs.

"But the policy would not cover a player who caused an injury to another."

Personal injury news archives