Billy Bremner - Wins Libel Action

Wins Libel Action

On 3 February 1982 Bremner won £100,000 libel damages, along with legal costs, after he sued the Sunday People Newspaper for publishing an article on 11 September 1977 that alleged he tried to fix football matches, including the May 1972 game at Wolves, which was two days after Leeds United had won the FA Cup. Leeds lost the game 2–1 and Derby County became champions for the first time in their history. Wolves mid-fielder Danny Hegan said Bremner tried to bribe him £1,000. Frank Munro, and Leeds United goalkeeper Gary Sprake and former Leeds player Billy McAdams also claimed in a newspaper article that Bremner was involved in an attempt to bribe Wolves to lose the match, but both refused to repeat these allegations under oath in court. Former team mates Jack Charlton, Allan Clarke and Johnny Giles all spoke up for Bremner. So did Wolves player Derek Dougan, who had scored against Leeds in the match in question. Dougan testified that no attempt was made to bribe Wolves and that the claims were nonsense. Others who spoke up on Bremner's behalf included Frederick Lawson and Doug Fraser and the match referee who said he saw nothing untoward. Oddhams newspapers, who published the article and Hegan, who repeated the allegations in court, were both ordered to pay the costs of the seven day hearing, estimated at £60,000.

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