Punish clubs to stop thugs

PRESuMINg good behaviour, the football season will not be over when Paul Mitchell, the cowardly thug who attacked Jack grealish from behind, is out of prison. His 14-week sentence is no adequate deterrent, and the mealymouthed appraisal of magistrates did nothing to address the exceptional circumstances of this assault. Mitchell was treated like a hero by many Birmingham fans as he was led away on Sunday, and by early May should be at liberty to enjoy this celebrity status. It is clear that football is going to get scant assistance from the law in tackling the growing threat posed to players, so must act independently. Lifetime bans for individuals do not go far enough; fines will be paid, too. If grounds have to be closed, games have to be forfeited, points have to be lost for this to end, that is the way it must be. At Arsenal on Sunday a fan entered the field and confronted Chris Smalling (above) of Manchester united, after the second goal had been scored. Imagine if, instead of Arsenal winning 2-0, the result had been reversed as 3-0 to Manchester united. Would he be such a hero to his own then; or if the ground was then shut for the visit of Newcastle and Crystal Palace in April; or points deducted so that Arsenal fell out of the Champions League places? Why punish the majority for the actions of one? Because nothing else seems to be working; certainly not the puny power of magistrates.