Magpies Step Up Owen Fight

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has handed the fight for compensation following Michael Owen's injury on England duty over to the club's lawyers.

Shepherd, who faces picking up the tab for the proportion of Owen's wages not covered by the Football Association's insurers and his treatment and rehabilitation, was contacted by the FA on
Friday after calling for one rule for all following speculation that Wayne Rooney had been treated as a special case, but he is now taking legal advice on the matter.

He told Newcastle's official website: "I thank the Football Association for contacting me and notifying me of their view. However, while the club is still discussing this issue with our European legal team, we will be making no further comment at this stage."

FA chiefs had dismissed suggestions they had taken out extra insurance to cover a £30million transfer fee and career earnings for Manchester United star Rooney in the event that he picked up a serious injury during the World Cup finals in Germany.

An FA spokesman said: "We have assured Freddy Shepherd that we have one insurance policy in place which covers all England players. No additional policies have been taken out, or premiums paid, to cover any individual players.

"This policy compensates clubs for both permanent and temporary injuries sustained by players whilst on international duty with England at a considerable cost to the FA.

"It is important to point out that the FA is one of the very few national associations that has such a policy in place to compensate clubs."

From : PA Newsfeed