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Amar Dedic set to escape Newcastle sanction over carrying bow and arrow
Newcastle are unlikely to discipline Amar Dedic after the right-back was seen carrying a bow and arrow in the Northumberland countryside, prompting a police response that included an armed unit. Police said they found no threat to the public, and Dedic is expected to play against Fulham on Saturday.
The incident happened on Wednesday after a member of the public reported two men with bows and arrows near a reservoir; officers later stopped Dedic’s car and seized the equipment. Six patrol cars were involved in the pursuit to his home, where Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and former player Paul Dummett reportedly helped calm the situation. The club is understood to view Dedic’s actions as naïve; police enquiries remain ongoing.
In short
- Dedic is unlikely to face club action after the bow-and-arrow incident.
- Police said the equipment was for recreation and posed no public threat.
- The £29.5m signing is expected to start against Fulham.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Newcastle could reasonably decide against disciplining Dedic if the police found no threat to the public and the club believes he acted naively rather than with harmful intent. A sanction may be disproportionate before enquiries are complete, particularly if he co-operated and no rules or laws were breached.
The case against
The club could reasonably impose a sanction because carrying bows and arrows in a public area led to a serious police response and alarm for a member of the public. Even without a confirmed threat, a professional player may be expected to exercise better judgement, and discipline could reinforce the importance of responsible conduct.
Explained simply
Amar Dedic is a right-back, a defender who usually plays on the right side of a football team. He plays for Newcastle, a Premier League club in north-east England; Fulham are another Premier League side.
Bows and arrows can be used for sport, but reports of people carrying them in public may prompt police to check whether anyone is at risk. Police involvement does not by itself mean a person has committed an offence, and enquiries can continue while officers establish what happened.
The incident has drawn attention because it involved a professional footballer and a substantial police response. Any club decision about discipline is separate from the police enquiries.