A FORMER footballer from Burnley has won his legal battle against a fellow professional who ended his career with a horror tackle.

Chris Casper, whose father is the former Burnley Football Club manager Frank Casper, was left with horrific injuries after being brought down by Richard Carpenter on Boxing Day, 1999.

Carpenter has admitted liability for the tackle and the player's legal teams will now attempt to decide on a compensation settlement.

Chris, a former member of a Manchester United youth team that featured David Beckham, was playing for Reading and Carpenter for Cardiff City at the time of the incident.

The tackle left him with a broken fibula, tibia and cruciate and ankle ligament damage.

The 27-year-old defender has undergone a series of operations and doctors have inserted five metal screws into his left leg.

The former pupil at St Theodore's, Burnley, brought a private action against Carpenter for loss of earnings.

The case was due to begin at Manchester High Court yesterday, but proceedings were stopped after Carpenter admitted liability.

Chris would not comment on the case because of a confidentiality agreement, but Jan Levinson, his solicitor, said: "The case has not been settled as such, one aspect of it has.

"It now goes forward to another trial of quantum, which is effectively the financial amount.

"It depends on whether we can settle that aspect out of court, if not there will be another trial.

"The parties have agreed to compromise on one aspect of the case."

In 1998 after being told he was not wanted at Old Trafford, Chris was sold to Reading for £300,000.

He quickly established himself at the heart of the Royals defence but his career was brought to a premature end.

The Professional Footballer's Association, the players' union, said it had no involvement in the case, but had offered both parties advice.

It would like to see players offered an alternative to the courts.

A spokesman said: "Any member should know football is a highly-competitive game, but there are boundaries they should not step over. Perhaps football should have something in place which would remove the need to go to court, maybe a fund for a player who suffers from a challenge that falls outside what you would consider reasonable."

Chris Casper is not the first player to bring an action against a fellow professional.

"The former Chelsea star Paul Elliot tried, unsuccessfully, to sue Dean Saunders in 1994.

The case followed a two-footed tackle executed by Saunders during a Liverpool and Chelsea match in September, 1992.

In 1997 Stockport County's Brian McCord was awarded £250,000 in damages after his career was wrecked by a high tackle from Swansea's John Cornforth. In 1998,

Bradford City's Gordon Watson was awarded compensation after Huddersfield's Kevin Gray broke both his legs.

Manchester City's Alf Haaland contemplated suing Manchester United captain Roy Keane for a tackle that was outlined in the Irishman's autobiography.

Chris Casper has now left Reading and started a coaching career, helping Team Bath win promotion to the Doctor Martins league this year.

A Reading Football Club spokesman said: "We are glad that it is settled for Chris.

"Now he can put it behind him and get on with his life.

"We wish him the very best and he knows he is always welcome here."

Carpenter was today unavailable for comment.