A landmark judgment in the Western Cape High Court may serve as a precedent for sports players deliberately injured during games.
The comment came from a local attorney, after a former school rugby player won his case against an opposing player, who purposefully hurt him in a school rugby match in 2005.
Ryand Hattingh broke his neck in a scrum while playing for a Paarl high school six years ago.
Attorney Tzvi Brivik said if there is any harmful intent, the person must be held liable.
“Judge Burton Fourie was saying that when it is an illegal move and a dangerous maneuver like the other one that was under consideration in this case, then civil liabilities and damages will follow,” he said.
Brivik added that it is not only players that could be held liable for injuries.
“In an instance where it can be shown that the referee wasn’t properly trained or didn’t receive training or that the rules of the game weren’t being followed, then liability would then move from the player to the referee and then to his or her employer, being the school.”
(Story by Rafiq Wagiet , Edited by Lindiwe Mlandu appeared on Eyewitness News)
