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Leaders face distraction Alleged racial attack clouds future of young Leeds stars
Posted: Thursday January 20, 2000 12:00 PM
LONDON (AP) -- League-leading Leeds has promised to come down hard on young stars Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate if they are found guilty of a suspected racial attack on a 19-year-old Asian student. But what kind of punishment? The first hint may come in Leeds' Sunday match at Sunderland. Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said he won't meddle in manager David O'Leary's decision whether to play the two on Sunday. But he knows the problem won't go away if charges are filed and the two become embroiled in a high-profile court case. "David [O'Leary] is distressed and upset and he wants to get to the bottom of what happened," Ridsdale said. "He is a strict disciplinarian forever instilling in his young players what is acceptable and what is not." "If either Lee Bowyer or Jonathan Woodgate is found guilty, the club will come down on them like a ton of bricks." The two players were arrested by Leeds police Tuesday for questioning in connection with the beating of an Asian man last week outside a nightclub. The man suffered serious head injuries and reains hospitalized. Bowyer and Woodgate were released on bail without charge pending further investigation. News reorts suggested the two could each be fined a British-record 100,000 pounds (US$160,000) if they're charged and found guilty. Bowyer, 22, has been one of Leeds' best players and he captained the England under-21 team. Woodgate, 19, is a promising defender who played his first full international against Bulgaria seven months ago. Meanwhile, the English Football Association is trying to stay neutral about the Jan. 12 incident. "We will be monitoring the situation closely," said F.A. executive director David Davies. "At this stage, however, it would be wrong to say any more." Arsenal and Manchester United are tied a point behind Leeds (Man United has played three fewer games than Leeds and two fewer than Arsenal) and face the biggest match of the coming week on Monday at Old Trafford. Manchester United is well rested following its Club World Championship flop in Brazil. Arsenal is banged up and coming off being knocked out of the FA Cup on Wednesday by Leicester. The Gunners will be missing most of their offense. Davor Suker is suspended, Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars are injured and Kanu is away playing in Africa. Manager Arsene Wenger is attempting to lure Daniel Fonseca from Juventus on loan to fill he gap and team with Thierry Henry. Chelsea, lodged in the middle of the Premier League pack, reached the fifth round of the FA Cup Wednesday -- beating first-division Nottingham Forest 2-0 -- as the foreigner-heavy side chases a trophy it won in 1997. The Blues play at Aston Villa in one of eight matches on Saturday, while slumping Middlesbrough travels to Liverpool. Also on tap: Bradford vs. Watford, Derby vs. Coventry, Leicester vs. West Ham, Southampton vs. Everton, Tottenham vs. Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon vs. Newcastle. Danny Wilson, embattled manager of last-place Sheffield Wednesday, has apparently survived calls for his resignation from Sheffield-area members of Parliament. Chairman Dave Richards said he and Wilson will stay in control even if the club is relegated. "Wilson's not going, and I'm not going," Richards said. "He has got more than two years on his contract and he will see it out." West Ham on Thursday denied it was about to sign troubled striker Stan Collymore for Aston Villa on a free transfer. "There's been no contact with Aston Villa or the player. The story is rubbish," said club secretary Graham Mackrell. In England's first division on Saturday, leaders Charlton are at Norwich with other key matches featuring Ipswich at Bolton, Manchester City at Sheffield United, and Blackburn at Barnsley. Also on tap: Crewe vs. Walsall, Fulham vs. Grimsby, Huddersfield vs. Tranmere, Nottingham Forest vs. West Brom, Port Vale vs. Birmingham, Stockport vs. Portsmouth and Wolves vs. Queens Park Rangers. In Scotland on Saturday, No. 1 Rangers are home to Aberdeen with Hibernian at Dundee United, Dundee at Hearts and Motherwell at St. Johnstone. On Sunday, No. 2 Celtic is at Kilmarnock.
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