The FA confirmed on Tuesday they will not punish Chris Morgan for the challenge which left Hume with a fractured skull.

Hume, 25, spent two further nights in hospital after being readmitted on Monday with an infection and is continuing his recovery at home.

Barnsley are considering legal action and claimed the FA would have acted if a more illustrious player had been the victim.

Manager Simon Davey said: "I am angry and disappointed. I think that they've let down Iain Hume badly and let down Barnsley Football Club.

"I think that had it been Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, the decision they gave would have been different."

Barnsley owner Patrick Cryne added: "The two people who should have been punished have got away with it. Chris Morgan is still playing football and Andy D'Urso is still refereeing.

"It has not ended for Iain Hume, he has suffered a serious injury which is career-threatening and was life-threatening.

"He and his advisers need to decide their next action. Barnsley Football Club has supported Iain throughout this and will continue to do so."

If legal action does follow, it will not be the first time a court case has stemmed from injuries suffered on the pitch.

Here the Yorkshire Post spotlights some previous cases:

Ben Collett

Former Manchester United youngster Collett received a record £4.3m in damages after being forced to retire due to a double leg break suffered in a challenge by Middlesbrough player Gary Smith in a reserve game in 2003. Middlesbrough and Smith admitted liability and Collett was awarded the sum as compensation for lost future earnings from a promising career.

Matty Holmes

Holmes's career was ended while playing for Charlton in 1998 with a tackle by Australian defender Kevin Muscat. After suing both Muscat and his then club, Wolves, the midfielder won damages – after a six-year fight for compensation – of £250,000 plus costs, totalling around £750,000. Two other players who suffered bad challenges by Muscat, Christophe Dugarry and Craig Bellamy, gave evidence.

Chris Casper

Former Manchester United youngster Casper suffered a double fracture to his leg while playing for Reading against Cardiff in 1999. The tackle by Richard Carpenter ended his career and Casper secured undisclosed damages – reported at £1m – in an out-of-court settlement.

Gordon Watson

Striker Watson won a claim for negligence against Huddersfield defender Kevin Gray after suffering a broken leg while playing for Bradford in 1997. Watson, who managed to battle back from the injury to play, was awarded nearly £1m in damages.

Paul Elliott

Elliott's career was ended after an injury suffered in a collision with striker Dean Saunders. The Chelsea defender, who ruptured knee ligaments, took Wales international Saunders to court in 1994 but was unsuccessful as Mr Justice Drake ruled that the Liverpool striker, who denied liability, was not to blame.

John Uzzell

Torquay defender John Uzzell pressed charges against Brentford striker Gary Blissett after his cheekbone was broken in a challenge in 1991 and left him needing surgery on his eye socket. Uzzell claimed Blissett had used his elbow recklessly but the striker was cleared of grievous bodily harm.