Football player jailed for punch-up on field A FOOTBALLER from Barnsley has been jailed for four months for smashing a rival player's jaw during an FA Cup match. It is thought to be the first time in recent history a football player has been jailed in England for an offence on the pitch. Barrow defender James Cotterill, aged 24, who was born and lives in Barnsley, pleaded guilty to punching Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg, causing him grievous bodily harm, during a first round match on November 11 last year. Half-an-hour into the "highly charged" game Cotterill fractured Mr Rigg's jaw in two places, Preston Crown Court heard. The bone must be held together with metal plates for the rest of his life. Television cameras captured the off-the-ball assault, which was shown that evening to millions of viewers on the BBC's Match of the Day programme. Passing sentence, Judge Robert Brown said: "The courts have for a long time now made it absolutely clear that this sort of violence on the field of play cannot and will not be tolerated. "And for this kind of off-the-ball incident a custodial sentence is inevitable." Judge Brown said he took into account Cotterill's decision to plead guilty at the first opportunity, the remorse he had expressed for the assault and his previous good record on the pitch, when passing sentence. Cotterill did not react as he was sent down, but his mother and a young female friend or family member, who were in the public gallery, both started crying after the sentence was read out. The court heard Cotterill, a married father of one, from Spring Street, Barnsley, was very remorseful for his actions. Peter Kennedy, defending, said: "He is thoroughly ashamed for his family, former club and his profession." Mr Kennedy described the punch as "a moment of folly" that took place in "the heat of the moment". Cotterill resigned from Barrow Football Club shortly afterwards and wrote personal letters to Mr Rigg and Bristol Rovers apologising for his behaviour. Cotterill hit Mr Rigg from behind so the striker had no idea what had happened to him. The FA suspended Cotterill from any football-related activities after the match. The ban lasts until March 1 this year and in the meantime he has been working as an apprentice cable jointer.
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