No penalty for Symonds, fine for streaker.


Andrew Symonds knocks the streaker to the ground (c) Getty Images
Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds may not be penalised for man-handling
a spectator during the second final against India at Brisbane as no
complaint has been filed against the cricketer so far.
The 26-year-old spectator was handed a 1,500 dollars fine for invading the
cricket field but he escaped having a conviction recorded against him after
pleading guilty to willful exposure in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on
Wednesday.
Queensland police have said they were not investigating Symonds after the
incident which occurred during the Australian innings at Gabba on Tuesday.
"Police have not received a complaint against Andrew Symonds and are not
investigating the matter further," a police spokesman was quoted as saying
by the *Daily Telegraph* on Wednesday.
Cricket Australia officials have also said Symonds will face no penalty over
the incident, claiming that "they had taken advice from their lawyer Dean
Kino that the all rounder would not be in hot water for his big hit because
the spectator was a trespasser", the paper said.
Symonds had leaned onto the man in a rugby-style shoulder charge and
grounded him when he ran onto the pitch naked, trying to evade the police by
approaching in the direction of the all rounder during the Australian
run-chase on Tuesday.
Symonds could have faced a serious punishment if the International Cricket
Council had decided to take action against him under its section 4.2 of
player's code of conduct.
The clause penalises cricketers for physical assault of a rival player, an
official or a spectator with a ban ranging anywhere from five Test matches
or 10 limited-overs internationals to a lifetime.
The streaker, however, had no regrets for being fined over his antics as he
said it was "great" to be handled by the burly all rounder Symonds.
"It was great actually... Just like playing football," he told reporters.
The court heard Robert Ogilvie had been drinking with his brother and
friends when he decided to strip and run onto the field.
Ogilvie said he would never streak again but was not sorry about his naked
run. "You only live once, don't you?" he said.

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