Bowyer cleared for England

Leeds United AFC midfield player Lee Bowyer has been cleared to be considered for international duty after being found not guilty of an attack on a student in the city, the English Football Association (FA) said on Friday.

'Considered for selection'
"The FA has decided that Lee Bowyer will be considered for selection," a statement on the governing body's website said. But the FA are "still studying the details" of Jonathon Woodgate's case before deciding whether the Leeds defender can also be selected.

Community service
Woodgate was convicted of affray but cleared of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent after the incident in Leeds. The England defender was ordered to do 100 hours of community service as a punishment for his offence. "The FA...will be talking to both the club and the player in the next few days," the statement continued.

Other verdicts
Bowyer was cleared of the same two charges - causing GBH with intent and affray - by a jury at Hull Crown Court in England.  Woodgate's friend Paul Clifford was convicted of GBH and affray, while another friend, Neale Caveney, was convicted of affray but cleared of causing GBH.

Charges denied
Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough and Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, had denied the charges as had Clifford and Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough. Clifford was sentenced to six years in jail while like Woodgate, Caveney received 100 hours of community service.

Student injured
The prosecution alleged that student Sarfraz Najeib and his friends were chased through Leeds city centre following a confrontation outside the Majestyk nightclub in January 2000. Najeib, 21, was left with injuries including a broken nose and cheekbone and a fractured leg after being attacked in the Mill Hill area of Leeds.

Eight-week trial
The jury of seven women and five men first retired to consider its verdicts on Monday afternoon after a trial lasting eight weeks. The first trial collapsed after an article linked to the case was published in a Sunday newspaper. The cost of both trials has been estimated at €24m.

Netherlands friendly
Bowyer is now available for selection by coach Sven-Göran Eriksson for England's next international, against the Netherlands in February. Woodgate has one full England cap to his credit, Bowyer is a former Under-21 international.