A former international footballer has been sentenced to nine
months of home detention for assaulting a referee during an
Anzac Day match in Auckland.
Tama Fasavlu had earlier pleaded guilty to wounding with
intent to injure after the attack on Len Gattsche in a game
at Massey Park, Mangere in April.
Mr Gattsche gave Fasavalu - a former Samoan international - a
second yellow card for heavy tackling during the 79th minute
of the match.
A second yellow card automatically becomes a red card,
meaning Fasavalu was sent off for the rest of the match.
Fasavalu played three games for Samoa and scored two goals in
a World Cup qualifying match in 2004.
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