The days of the hard hitting footballer may be coming to an end thanks to the risk of compensation claims if they injure opponents, according to a legal expert.
Soccer stars such as Roy Keane and Duncan Ferguson built their careers on their hard-man image but liability worries could see lower league and amateur sides shy away from players that could pose an insurance and legal risk.
Phillip Morgan, an expert in law and grassroots football in the UK, warned a conference that insurance costs to cover intentional wrongs could see the beautiful game cleaned up.
Individual players and team mates could face legal bills due to liability over injury, Morgan warned, as injured players seek compensation.
“In the amateur game, if you get a lorry driver who is injured and going to be out of work for six months, then he may look for compensation,” Morgan said, according to
The Daily Mirror.
“You then have liability for insurance claims. Insurance for loss is central. The ‘Roy Keane’ type player may have football talent but can you insure with them safely?”
Morgan noted that in the professional game, legal action would be taken against the club but, as an unincorporated association, the 10 other players on the field of an amateur game could find themselves named in actions based on their team-mates.
“If you have a situation where you are injured, but the player who commits the foul does not have the means to pay, then that could trigger vicarious liability for the other players,” Morgan continued.
Morgan said that a club treasurer of a rugby club was sued in a personal capacity and faced a charge placed against his home for close to $150,000 (£85,000) in a similar incident.
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