Compensation culture
Sir: The award of £4.5 million to the footballer Ben Collett mostly consists of lost potential earnings. Rod Liddle (Liddle Britain, 16 August) is worried not by the amount but by the fact that any compensation may have severe consequences for the game as a whole. Another way of looking at the matter is to consider that Mr Collett, who sounds like a refreshing change from the stereotype of the shallow, illiterate footballer, is now about to enter Leeds University, where new career opportunities will open on graduation.
Eventually Collett may find a lucrative city job and earn even more than he could have as a footballer. The injury could mean that he will end up financially better off, even without any compensation. Instead of receiving a payment, there could be an argument for him choosing to pay some money, perhaps to a sporting charity, if his future wealth exceeds that forecast by his legal team.
Laurence Kelvin
London W9
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