Monday, July 31 – 2000
England football star Robbie Fowler was spared a courtroom ordeal yesterday after a man pleaded guilty to assaulting him in a hotel toilet. The Liverpool striker suffered a broken nose during the unprovoked attack after a match 16 months ago.
Fowler, 25, was due to give evidence against his attacker, 24 year old Paul Noon, but the trial was abandoned when Noon pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. Noon, of Everton, who also admitted being in possession of cocaine, will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court next month.
A spokesman for Fowler said he was “very happy” about the outcome and was hoping to focus on training for the new season. The assault in April last year came at a low point in Fowler’s career as it coincided with the start of a six-match bane imposed by the Football Association for his actions at a match against local rivals Everton.
Fowler responded to taunts from the Everton fans over unfounded rumours that he was a cocaine user by twice going down on his knees and pretending to sniff the white line around the pitch after scoring a goal. The suspension started after a game against Aston Villa on April 17. After that match Fowler was drinking with friends at the Liverpool Moat House hotel when he went to the toilet alone at 2 am.
Witnesses described seeing him emerging from the toilet two minutes later with his face covered in blood and his nose broken. Neil Flewitt, prosecuting, told the court: “It is not suggested that anything said or done by Mr Fowler prompted the actions of the defendant. Whatever was said prior to this unprovoked attack, it is in no way suggested that Mr Fowler was at fault.
(Daily Express, 01-08-2000)
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