Sunday league football players who are injured as a result of a reckless tackle by another player could be eligible for compensation, it has been claimed.

Clare Langford, a solicitor in the Midlands, told the Burnley Express that people who play for fun risk losing their income if they are seriously hurt and that although they should get insurance, they should also take action if another player deliberately hurts them.

"Players have a duty not to deliberately injure another player.If an injury occurs out of these circumstances, the injured player may have grounds to seek compensation from the opposing negligent player and should consider seeking legal advice," Ms Langford commented.

She added that the injury to Arsenal’s Eduardo last season should remind players that serious injury can occur in the course of a game.

After an injury in September 1992, Paul Elliott, who then played for Chelsea, filed a lawsuit against Liverpool’s Dean Saunders after the latter’s tackle forced him to retire.