A former Manchester United youth-team player was awarded more than 4.3 million pounds ($8.26 million) in compensation for a career-ending tackle at the High Court in London on Monday. Ben Collett, now 23, was part of United's FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2003 but in May that year had his leg broken in two places in a tackle by Middlesbrough's Gary Smith on his first appearance for the reserve team.
He failed to make a full recovery from the injury. United manager Alex Ferguson gave evidence on behalf of Collett at an earlier hearing in Manchester. The final compensation is likely to reach 4.5 million pounds when sums for future loss of pension and interest on past loss of earnings are factored in. Middlesbrough's insurers will pay the compensation.