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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| FA Cup assault footballer jailed | FA Cup assault footballer jailed |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A footballer has been jailed for hitting a rival player in the face during an FA Cup match. | A footballer has been jailed for hitting a rival player in the face during an FA Cup match. |
| Barrow defender James Cotterill, 24, pleaded guilty to punching Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg during a first round match on 11 November last year. | Barrow defender James Cotterill, 24, pleaded guilty to punching Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg during a first round match on 11 November last year. |
| He was sentenced to four months at Preston Crown Court after admitting grievous bodily harm. | He was sentenced to four months at Preston Crown Court after admitting grievous bodily harm. |
| Cotterill is thought to be the first player in recent history in England to be jailed for an offence on the pitch. | Cotterill is thought to be the first player in recent history in England to be jailed for an offence on the pitch. |
| The incident took place at Conference North club Barrow's Holker Street Stadium. | |
| Metal plates | Metal plates |
| Father-of-one Cotterill fractured Mr Rigg's jaw in two places during the "highly charged" match between Barrow and their League Two opponents. | Father-of-one Cotterill fractured Mr Rigg's jaw in two places during the "highly charged" match between Barrow and their League Two opponents. |
| The court heard Mr Rigg had to drink through a straw and eat with a teaspoon as a result of the punch. His jaw will be held in place by metal plates for the rest of his life. | The court heard Mr Rigg had to drink through a straw and eat with a teaspoon as a result of the punch. His jaw will be held in place by metal plates for the rest of his life. |
| Peter Kennedy, defending, described the punch as "a moment of folly" that took place in "the heat of the moment". | Peter Kennedy, defending, described the punch as "a moment of folly" that took place in "the heat of the moment". |
| The incident took place at Barrow's Holker ground | The incident took place at Barrow's Holker ground |
| Cotterill hit Mr Rigg from behind so the striker had no idea what had happened to him. | Cotterill hit Mr Rigg from behind so the striker had no idea what had happened to him. |
| He told police that, earlier on in the game, Mr Rigg had "barged into him". | He told police that, earlier on in the game, Mr Rigg had "barged into him". |
| Mr Kennedy said: "The defendant thought this was about to recur so he said he struck out and punched him to get him away." | Mr Kennedy said: "The defendant thought this was about to recur so he said he struck out and punched him to get him away." |
| The off-the-ball assault was not seen by the referee or any other players, however television cameras captured the off-the-ball assault, which was shown that evening to millions of viewers on the BBC's Match of the Day. | The off-the-ball assault was not seen by the referee or any other players, however television cameras captured the off-the-ball assault, which was shown that evening to millions of viewers on the BBC's Match of the Day. |
| The Football Association (FA) banned Cotterill from playing football until March 2007. | The Football Association (FA) banned Cotterill from playing football until March 2007. |
| Cotterill resigned after the incident and has been working as an apprentice cable jointer while he sees out his suspension. | Cotterill resigned after the incident and has been working as an apprentice cable jointer while he sees out his suspension. |
| He was ordered to pay £270 costs. | He was ordered to pay £270 costs. |