The full penalty of the law 3

About time too. On hearing that Marlon King had been sent down - and why - Wigan chairman Dave Whelan did the decent thing and sacked the recidivist thug, vowing that he would never play for Wigan again. That's the right decision.

Unfortunately for football and for society King's agent Tony Finnigan has other ideas. He claims that King "has rights as a professional athlete", oblivious to the fact that women also have rights. "When you are a footballer you want to play football," he continued, ignoring the fact that when you are a woman you want to be able to go out and have a good time without being hassled by some violent misogynist.

Finnigan had more: "Let's say he does his time and comes out afterwards. Do you expect him to work for McDonald's? Someone will sign him to score goals." Believe me, he's going to do his time, no "let's say" about it. And when he comes out, society expects him to reform and keep his head down, not return to the £40,000-a-week salary which has probably contributed to making him feel he is above women and the law.

"This ain't a movie, this is real life. No-one expected this," he finished. Why didn't you expect it, Messrs King and Finnegan? Because you think women should just accept this treatment without complaint? Because you think women are objects to sexually assault at your will and then beat up when they refuse your advances?

Yes it is real life, and it's time both these men copped on to that fact. It's also time the relevant authorities did the same as Whelan and banned Finnigan from football. Nobody likes the Marlon Kings of this world, and nobody likes those who defend them.