The recent events in the Rugby League match between St Helens and Wigan raise very important issues about when the police should get involved when trouble kicks off in sporting events. Because Lance Hohaia, the victim, has declined to prosecute it may well be that a piece of sickening violence witnessed by thousands will not be the subject of criminal charges.

Garry Schofield, former Great Britain captain said, “I know people are saying if Flower did that in a pub car park or outside a nightclub he’d be arrested but that’s the point – it wasn’t.”

So walking across to a man you have already rendered unconscious with a blow in the heat of the moment and then deliberately punching him again in the eye socket is less deserving of prosecution than a similar offence committed by drunks in a brawl? Far from it. It is worse.

In fact when anyone in the public eye commits an offence they usually receive harsher sentences in order to discourage the rest of us. And the fact that the victim hasn’t complained shouldn’t affect the decision of the police to prosecute. Imagine the opportunities afforded to the violent and criminal to discourage their victims from seeking justice by suggesting further visitations should they do so? Clearly a Rugby League player isn’t going to lose face by whingeing about a small thing like being punched while unconscious. Something the rest of us would consider unspeakably barbaric.

In fact the only quotes I have seen so far suggesting that the sport should be allowed to discipline its own players without involving the legal system are other rugby players. That’s a bit like allowing other burglars to decide whether one of their number should be arrested for breaking and entering.

The six month ban Flower received is no more than a slap on the wrist, I got a six month driving ban several years ago for doing 40 mph in a 30mph limit, when I was totted up. No complaint about that but it serves as a comparison. The thousands that witnessed the event and the millions who are now waiting to see how it is treated need to see that such savage malevolence is punished with appropriate severity.

In a sport where the handbags don’t have rocks in them – good news at Adams Park. Wanderers are top of the League! Long may it stay the case. COYB.