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No police charges over soccer brawl

Frank Wood
3/ 4/2008

SOCCER officials were expected to hand out more punishment this week to a Salford football club after violent scenes at a Heywood match in February.

But there will be no police prosecutions following the flare-up at Heywood St James’ Phoenix Park ground that left one man needing hospital treatment.

Manchester County FA has already fined Salford Victoria FC £100 and fined player Lee Cox £225 and banned him from playing in any matches for 15 months. The club has also been warned about its future conduct.

The FA says there will be no action against Heywood’s St James’ Football Club.

Manchester League secretary Phil Platt says it will be decided what sanctions the league should impose when it meets this week. He said: "There will be some kind of punishment by the league, but those things remain confidential between us and the club or clubs concerned."

St James’ chairman, Danny Dyson, said he was "satisfied" with the action taken by the FA but would not comment further.

At a county FA hearing, Cox, 24, admitted running on to the pitch with a plank of wood after he had been sent off by the referee. He also admitted assaulting a St James’ player.

Cox’s older brother, Paul, was cleared of a misconduct charge.

The match, on Saturday 9 February, was abandoned by referee David Shipp after five minutes and police had to be called to restore order.

St James’ trainer Lee Young had to be treated at Fairfield Hospital for a broken finger and nose injury after being hit in the face.

The Heywood club was left with a large repair bill after a chair was thrown through a dressing room window during the melee.

Greater Manchester Police say players and officials have been "interviewed at length" about the flare-up but no-one has been charged "because of insufficient evidence to ensure a successful prosecution."