Algeria international and Saudi Pro League winger Said Benrahma has been fined £12,000 (Rs 14 lakh) for owning dangerously out-of-control dogs that attacked a golden retriever in 2023 while he was playing for West Ham. Benrahma admitted to two counts of owning dangerously out-of-control dogs during a court hearing via video link from Saudi Arabia, where he currently plays for Neom.The incident took place in east London when his two XL bullies escaped from his home and attacked a golden retriever named Bailey, injuring the dog and a man. The retriever required veterinary treatment, while its owner sustained grazes to the arms and legs. Benrahma defended himself by saying the dogs escaped through a side gate left open by someone working for him at the time. The dogs now live in France. District Judge Matt Jabbitt imposed fines of £5,000 for each attack and ordered Benrahma to pay £2,500 compensation to Bailey’s owner, plus £495 in kennel costs. The judge noted that Benrahma “expressed remorse when interviewed” and also remarked that it was his first time “sentencing someone in the Middle East.” The case took place months before the British government introduced a ban on owning XL bully dogs in England and Wales following a series of fatal attacks. Under the current law, it is a criminal offense to own such dogs without a certificate of exemption.
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Despite Benrahma’s defense, the magistrate emphasized the severity of the attacks, which left both an animal and a person injured. The winger’s case has drawn attention not only because of his footballing profile but also due to the growing public scrutiny around XL bully dogs and the potential dangers posed when such animals are left unsupervised.
