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September 4,
2002 (Wednesday)
Woodgate to face
new court date
England are facing
the prospect of their European Championship
campaign being overshadowed by the civil case brought by Asian
student Sarfraz Najeib against Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate.
The lawyer for the Najeib family today confirmed that Woodgate will
be served with a writ for the case within the next two weeks.
Proceedings against Bowyer have already started.
The family have also criticised the decision by England manager Sven-
Goran Eriksson and the Football Association to end the players'
international exile while the case into the drunken attack on Najeib
in Leeds City centre in January 2000 is ongoing.
Suresh Grover, a spokesman for the Najeib family, said: 'The family
are very disappointed with the FA and the manager of the English
football team.
'These footballers are seen as role models but they have been
involved in a serious attack on the Najeib brothers. There's a civil
action outstanding against both players and no decision regarding
their selection for England should be made until there cases are
over.
'The family have suffered enormously since the attack and continue to
suffer and this issue cannot simply be ignored.'
Although Bowyer was cleared of all charges relating to the attack on
Najeib and his brother, he was still heavily criticised by the judge
for his actions. Woodgate was convicted of affray following their
trial last December.
A writ for a £100,000 compensation claim was served on Bowyer in
April and Grover confirmed today that Woodgate will also be served in
the next two weeks.
While Eriksson and FA chief executive Adam Crozier will be relieved
Woodgate will not be served this week while on England duty the
impact of the case on the Leeds defender will concern them. His form
and health deteriorated dramatically during the criminal case at a
time when he was regarded as one of the country's best footballing
prospects.
Bowyer and Woodgate's England ban was lifted on Monday after just
over two and a half years. Bowyer is almost certain to play against
Portugal on Saturday now David Beckham has withdrawn from the squad.
Eriksson explained the reason for the change of heart saying: 'You
cannot go on punishing people all their lives because they did
something. I would not treat my children like that and it's the same
for football players.'
In addition to the two players the Najeib family is also said to be
planning to take legal action against Leeds United claiming the club
perverted the course of the justice.
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