LogFAQs > #976957195

Block_that_Kick posted...

I dont know about the UK laws, but in most US states, he could absolutely be charged with negligent involuntary manslaughter if it could be proven that he intended to stick his leg out to illegally block Johnsons path.

Its not really that simple, when it comes to sports. Legal experts from all over have been weighing in saying that in order for somebody to be charged in a case like this, it needs to be seen as them having committed an act that blatantly goes above and beyond what typically happens in a normal game. Its not as simple as well that was a penalty, because if those kinds of moves are still common to the sport and are ONLY treated as penalties/fouls/whatever, then it doesnt reach the above and beyond status.

Its why, for example, a helmet to helmet hit in football resulting in a death wouldnt be charged, without egregious circumstances, but a player taking their helmet off to club another player could be.

In this case, the consensus seems to be that even if you assume he aimed to trip the guy, that tends to fall under the umbrella of being something that just happens in the game. Whereas had they been like, fighting, or if he did intentionally kick for the neck, thatd be different.