There's something wrong with the system (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

There's something wrong with the system

10:17am Friday 19th September 2008

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It was the sort of thing you’d see from a sore loser on a Sunday morning.

The team are behind so I’ll take it out on my opponent and give him a good kick.

Only this one was in the Premier League.

Danny Guthrie’s “challenge” at Newcastle against Hull’s Craig Fagan was premeditated petulance at its worst.

Having had one swish and missed, Guthrie was determined to have another go, which fractured the striker’s left leg.

The Football Association have been backed into a corner after Guthrie was given a straight red. There is nothing in their rules to extend his automatic three-game ban, regardless of the damage caused.

Fagan, who could be laid up for three months, may take up the battle in court himself.

City fans will be familiar with that scenario after the infamous “tackle” on Gordon Watson by Kevin Gray.

Chris Casper, the current City youth-team boss, will also be watching closely after successfully suing an opponent over the injury that ended his career.

I wish Fagan well in his fight ahead – but there’s something wrong with the system that the player himself has to do all the work to see justice done while the authorities sit on their hands, muttering that “rules are rules”.