Solving GAA’s violence problem

Watching some of the scenes from recent GAA matches makes you wonder whether those who take part in such events ever consider that what they are doing is probably criminal in nature and that they might also be found personally liable in compensation to any victim, writes Jack Anderson

Ben Thornley was one of Manchester United’s class of ’92. In April 1994, as United went for the double, he played a reserve game against Blackburn Rovers. The idea was to keep him fit for the forthcoming FA Cup semi-final against Oldham. On the 65th minute, Thornley, with the ball at his feet, was hit by a flying two-footed tackle from Rovers’ Nicky Marker.

Thornley’s knee was destroyed. Though he returned to play sporadically for United between 1995 and 1998, his career tailed off after that and he never reached the heights of his 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning teammates.