An amateur footballer who punched a player from a rival team after being given a red card has appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Craig Burns, 30, of Woodlands Terrace, admitted that on March 30 at Dawson Park, Fairfield Road, he assaulted Mark Dunlop and punched him on the face, causing him to fall to the ground, all to his injury.
Depute fiscal Laura Bruce said the assault took place during an amateur football match between Morgan FP and Barnhill Amateur FC.
She said: “During the first 20 minutes there was no incident. Then about 20 minutes in Mr Dunlop and Mr Burns both went up to head the ball at the same time.
“It is alleged Mr Dunlop elbowed Mr Burns in the face. He stated he had not, claiming Mr Burns had run into him.”
The match continued with some pushing and shoving between the pair. They were both warned by the referee.
Mrs Bruce said: “The game resumed, but again there was further confrontation and the referee issued him (Burns) with a red card.
“He turned to Mr Dunlop and punched him on the left side of his face, causing him to fall to the ground. Mr Dunlop’s lip was cut and bleeding.”
Bruce was issued with another red card.
Mr Dunlop received treatment from his team’s medical staff and returned to the pitch 15 minutes later.
Sheriff Tom Hughes told Burns that because of his record of previous convictions he would defer sentence to obtain reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
Sentence was deferred to January 17.