€5.7m for career-ending tackle on gifted Man Utd boy

ONE of Britain’s most promising young footballers — praised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as “outstanding” — will receive at least £4.5 million (€5.7m) compensation over a tackle which ended his career.

Ben Collett, now 23, was at the High Court in London to hear a judge award him more than £4.3m damages, including £3,854,328 for future loss of earnings.

But Mrs Justice Swift pointed out that when additional sums for future loss of pension and interest on past loss of earnings are determined, the final payout was unlikely to be less than four and a half million pounds.

Ferguson told the judge at a recent hearing in Manchester that Collett had an outstanding chance of becoming a full-time professional if he had not been injured.

Collett joined United’s youth academy aged nine and signed youth contracts, becoming part of the club’s FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2003.

But, aged 18 and in his first game in the reserves in May 2003, he had his right leg broken in two places in a tackle by Middlesbrough FC’s Gary Smith.

After the ruling, Collett’s solicitor, Jan Levinson said: “Ben Collett and his family are happy that this case has finally come to a close and that Ben is now able to move on.”

He said: “The size of the award made by the court today reflects his talent and potential prior to the tackle as one of the brightest young footballers in the country.

“Having said that, Ben would understandably have preferred to earn this sum through a full career as a professional footballer.”

Levinson said: “The judgment announced today is the highest award ever given to a professional sportsman or sportswoman.”

Both Smith and the club admitted liability for the negligent tackle and the judge’s task was to decide on the level of compensation that Collett should receive from Middlesbrough’s insurers.

Mrs Justice Swift said she had found that had it not been for the injury, Collett would have been offered a three-year professional contract with Manchester United in July 2003.

United legend Paddy Crerand said the youngster was a Ryan Giggs type of player and could have gone on to become a household name.

As well as evidence from Ferguson, Mrs Justice Swift heard from other high-profile witnesses, including United captain Gary Neville.

The judge said the evidence about Collett’s ability and achievements, as well as his character and attitude, “was all one way”.

Describing the accident, Mrs Justice Swift said: “The tackle was high and ‘over the ball’ and, as a consequence, the claimant suffered a fracture of the tibia and fibula of his right leg.”