Casper reaches out of court settlement

By Mark Sugar
April 15 2004

Former Royals defender Chris Casper has reached an undisclosed out of court settlement with Brighton Hove Albion midfielder Richard Carpenter over a tackle back on Boxing Day 1999 in which ended the playing career of Casper.Casper is now the Youth Team Coach at 3rd Division Bury.

Former Royals defender Chris Casper has reached an undisclosed out of court settlement with Brighton Hove Albion midfielder Richard Carpenter over a tackle back on Boxing Day 1999 in which ended the playing career of Casper.

Casper suffered a double leg fracture injury when Reading were playing Cardiff City at Ninnian Park in a match which the Royals lost 1-0. Since that day, Casper never played for Reading again despite having a long crack at regaining his fitness.

He claimed damages for past and future loss of earnings and pain and suffering from Cardiff and their former player Richard Carpenter, now at Brighton.

The son of Burnley legend Frank Casper, Casper is now the Youth Team Coach at 3rd Division side Bury.

Speaking on the matter, Casper said;

"It's a matter of great relief that this has been settled. The tackle and the injuries I have sustained changed the course of my life and, inevitably, there have been some difficult times for my family and me. I would like to thank those people who have supported me throughout this difficult time, particularly my wife Karen, parents and close family. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my fellow football colleagues, particularly Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville, Tommy Burns and Manchester United, and to my legal team, the experts and everyone who helped on the case. I'm now coaching with Bury and enjoying the second chance that football has given me."

Since the tackle, Carpenter has become a target of abuse whenever he and Reading meet. Who can blame us since Carpenter didn't receive a red card for the horror tackle.

We wish Chris every success at Bury.