AitchBEE

Any violent activity on a football pitch is a civil matter, nit for the police or courts to deal with.

If the injured player or their teams wants to press charges they can.

If the FA wanted to take the matter more seriously they could, but apparently they don't.

If violence on the football field offends you stay away from any kind of football, be it premier league or the vastly more violent Sunday leagues.

You play football at a professional level you agree to abide by the rules of the professional game which includes a tariff of punishments for foul play. Ocassionally, where that foul play has gone beyond that considered tolerable for a contact sport, the police have become involved - Duncan Fergusson's headbutt of a player while playing for Rangers springs to mind (he received a custodial sentence in Barlinnie for that).

Outside of football, you assault someone, whether you be a football player or a visitor to a parliamentary enquiry, you break the law and must face the consequences. Yes the court seemed to deal with the guy harshly, but as has already been said, the courts like to be seen to protect the establishment.