SPORTING JUSTICE: 101 Sporting Encounters with the Law

Written by Ian Hewitt 

One hundred and one cases where sport, in the UK and the rest of the world, has rubbed up against the law, whether in a court or tribunal.

Ian Hewitt, a member of the management committee of the Wimbledon Championships who as a solicitor helped in the formation of the Premier League, looks at cases as diverse as US baseball’s ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson and the selling of the 1919 World Series to Eric Cantona’s kung-fu attack on a fan in 1995.

Football also supplies Duncan Ferguson and Bobby Moore while among the many other top sports stars appearing are Lester Piggott and Kieren Fallon from horse racing; Ben Johnson and Christine Ohoruogu from athletics; Ian Botham and Hansie Cronje from cricket; Eddie Irvine from motor racing; Tiger Woods from golf; Michael Watson from boxing; Stephen Hendry from snooker; Phil Taylor from darts and Greg Rusedski from tennis. 

All have contributed, some reluctantly, to the history of leading sporting encounters with the law. 

Hewitt’s own favourite is the upset Leicester soccer fan who sued a referee for shock suffered as a result of the offcial’s penalty decision in the last minute of extra time in an FA Cup tie!