article_snippet: On December 23, 1915, the seven were banned from playing for life.
article_snippet: A distraught West, the only United player to have appeared in the game, protested his innocence and sued the FA for libel. '
article_snippet: By the time their bans were handed down, the Football League had suspended operations for the duration of the First World War.
article_snippet: All the other players, except West, had All the other players, except West bans lifted by FA in 1919 in recognition of All the other players, except West service to the country.
article_snippet: West twice unsuccessfully attempted to sue FA FA for libel and in 1918 was caught and banned again for playing under an assumed name for a club in Ireland.
article_snippet: He had served the longest ban in football and maintained He innocence until He death in 1965.