Fan sues Rod for breaking his finger (From Penarth Times)

Fan sues Rod for breaking his finger

A PENARTH sculptor is considering suing rock legend Rod Stewart for kicking a leather soccer ball at him and breaking his finger.

Dad Steve Tudor, 47, of Harriet Street, Cogan, says he has been unable to work since the footballing-loving superstar kicked the ball into the audience at a recent gig.

He told the Times how he shielded his face as a ball shot into the 20,000 Coopers Field crowd and felt "agony" as it snapped his finger.

Steve said: "For Rod to kick these rock-hard balls into crowds is just daft. Why doesn't he kick softer plastic ones?"

The craftsman, his wife Rachel and brother Brian paid £55 for tickets to the concert, held last week.

Keen guitarist Steve explained how he was returning to his seat from the toilets when Rod started kicking balls.

He said: "Suddenly I saw this missile come flying straight at my head.

"Out of instinct, I stuck my hand up to protect my face. Then bang, this rock-hard ball just cracked down on my finger. I was in agony. The police took me to a first aid post and they sent me off to hospital.

"The crowd was full of middle-aged people wearing glasses. Someone could be blinded next time."

Steve, who has been a Rod fan since the 1960s, says he's in too much pain to work in his Cardiff city centre arts and crafts shop.

He said: "I'm prepared to sue for compensation."

A spokeswoman for Rod said: "He is a big soccer fan and supports Celtic and during his show kicks balls into the audiences.

"His audiences love it and most fans try to catch the balls and take them home as a memento of his concert. It's really shouldn't come as a surprise to any fan that he kicks balls out."