A footballer punched an opponent and broke his cheekbone after he was fouled, a court heard yesterday.

Albert Lejuan Thomas, of Lusher Hill, Warwick, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Kevin Bailey, when he appeared in Magistrates' Court.

Crown counsel Nicole Smith said on November 1, Thomas was playing for PHC Raiders and against Mr. Bailey who was playing for North Village Rams.

During the second half, Thomas was tackled and fouled by Mr. Bailey, but the court heard that Thomas jumped up after being thrown to the ground and ran over to Mr. Bailey, punching him on the left side of his face.

Mr. Bailey was unable to play the rest of the game and was taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone that required surgery.

Thomas attended the Somerset Police Station, where he was arrested. He admitted punching Mr. Bailey, but said he was angry at being tackled and was sorry for the outcome but not for what he did.

Asked for an explanation by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, the 43-year-old explained he had been playing football for 35 years and never had any similar incidents on the field. "He hit me harder than I've ever been hit in my life. I took the ball from him and told him he was 'soft' so I guess he got mad. He needed to know, 'Don't do that to me'.

"You break me, I'm breaking you back. Simple," he said.

Thomas continued: "I knew it wasn't very sportsmanlike but he was out of control."

The defendant also said he had received a four-year ban by the Bermuda Football Association.

Mr. Warner told Thomas: "We are talking about the issue of gentlemanly conduct of the game. Clearly you have recognised you acted wrong in the way you have responded. You've indicated you have remorse for the damage. I would be sad if a man of your age got a criminal conviction through sport of all things. This is a serious matter. Sport is not designed to be played in this way."

Thomas was given a conditional discharge for 12 months if he doesn't get into trouble for the next year, a conviction will not be recorded.