Just reading Sporting Life's account of opening arguments in the case against Bowyer and Woodgate. If the details alledged are true, and O'Leary knew about it, I will lose alot of respect for him as a manager for his decision to allow those 2 to continue playing this past year.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Answers

if its true - and sounds pretty damning - they are finished

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Yes, dreadful stuff...but s'pose, however bad it looks, O'Leary had, and has, to operate on the "innocent until proven guilty" principle. That's what the trial is for. The opening does look damning, but we have yet to hear any of the defence in what is set to be a lengthy case.

Big question is - IF any or all are found guilty - what, apart from the punishment of the court, is their future in football?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

If they are found guilty of GBH then it will be a decent prison sentence. Can't really see them coming back into top class football after a couple of years out. I think it'll become a case of what their careers might have been if they'd stayed straight.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Well there's always American football. Plenty of criminals there. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Just assuming they are found guilty, where will they go? Wakefield? Strangeways, or perhaps Barlinnie. Helluva old boys team they'd have in a few years. I'd bet on them beating NUFC's current team, based on yesterday's performance. Ooh - sorry, shouldn't have said "beating". Might seem prejudicial.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Don't be silly people! they're rich young international footballers, they're gonna get off with it even if they did do it! worst case scenario for them is 2 weeks inside I reckon....and don't for a second think that the football community will ostracise them cos it won't! they'll be straight out (if they go in!) and straight back into the team....

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

I can't believe there's anyone naive enough to believe it'll be otherwise.

They'll walk.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

I`m as cynical as you about this one Gav. They won`t be going anywhere except for straight back out onto the football pitch. I`d like to think that football is a more honourable sport than, say boxing (and I`m thinking Tyson here), but I think I am going to be proved wrong.

Having said that, however damning the evidence seems so far, they haven`t been proved guilty yet.(:o)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Come on chaps/esses. Let's not pre-judge the racist thugs.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Well, if they do get off with it and are back on the pitch, I for one will be shouting "Shoot" next time they get anywhere near the goal. Oh damn, there I go again - prejudicial. Anyway, shooting should only be dome slowly. Where's Klaus Hachmeyer when you need him??

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Gav's right. Let's face it, if a man convicted of underage sex with a girl can walk back to his job, what difference will a bit of thuggery do?

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

and if Bowyer does get fired by Leeds, you reckon we should go for him on a free transfer???

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

How do we know that it was a racist attack? just because they are asians and woodgate/bowyer are white. If the victims hadn't been Asians would there have been the same uproar?

As for the outcome, they'll probably get a suspended sentance and have to do some community service.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

I'm sorry I don't go along with your cynicism here at all.

Leeds has a reputation for racist undertones in its sport. Headingley nealry lost Test match status because of it.

We can't comment on the racist side of it until we've heard more but it was instantly highlighted as being that sort of attack even before arrests were made.

I feel it is very different to the Graham Rix case. I feel that if they are found guilty then they will get a long prison sentence. I don't know whether there are mandatory terms for GBH. Peter Risdale and David O'Leary have always handled themselves well in difficult circumstances it'll be interesting to see how they would react. If it was NUFC this had happened to I would want the players sacked. This is closer to the Cantona incident than the Rix situation. We'll find out whether O'Leary will be like Fergie and stand by his man, and blame the victims for provoking the reaction in the players by being a dodgy skin colour.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Bowyer and Woodgate are charged - with others - with affray (which I think carries a max penalty of three years) and causing GBH with intent (which can, in certain circs, carry anything up to a life penalty...though not in this case).

It's always dangerous to pre-judge any trial. These are very serious charges, denied by the accused. It's all well and good to be cynical about how the jury may be influenced by the top soccer star status. But, call me old fashioned...in a trial scheduled to last eight long weeks, I'd trust the jury to get it right - and the judge to do whatever he has to do.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

The video evidence does not show the Leeds players attacking the victim. It shows them entering the lcub, leaving in a car and then footage shows a group of lad chasing a group of lads.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001