Stuart Lustigman Column
MILLET SPORT
The horrific injury to Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey was perhaps disproportionate to the tackle made by Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross and I'm sure that had there not been an injury nothing more than a free kick/yellow card would have been given. More significantly I wonder how many people are aware that Mark Chapman's tackle on Terry Johnson in a Rugby & District Sunday League game resulted in a six month jail sentence for Chapman and the possibility of being sued for damages. With the increasing practice of injury lawyers pursuing claims for workplace and road traffic accidents we could well be seeing surreptitious characters standing on the touchline of Maccabi matches offering 'no win, no fee' claims for late tackles!
Last week's Jewish press highlighted an interesting debate on whether the MSFL "can prevail with it's current set-up?". MSFL Chairman David Wolff says, "yes" while Pinner JFC Chairman Les Conway, says "no". Les believes that growth and longevity can only be achieved if MSFL (and Masters) clubs develop a youth section or create links with youth clubs. I'm sure that in a 'perfect world' that's a great idea but, hey, the vast majority of adult players just want to go out on Sunday morning and have a game of football. The fact that taking responsibility for youth football, and all that it entails (Safeguarding Children Workshops, coaching etc.), is not on everyone's agenda does not spell the eventual demise of Jewish football and while teams will inevitably come and go, the leagues will continue to meet the demands of the community.
In its simplistic form the Glazer family invested £272m of their own money to purchase Manchester United in 2005. If the Red Knights consortium of City financiers takeover the club for £1.25 billion the Glazers should receive about £750m and having repaid £200m of PIK (payment in kind) they would show a £278m return on their original investment. Now that's what I call a
'Yiddisher' Kop'.
MILLET SPORT
