A Brazilian football player admitted assaulting an opposing player during a match in Queenstown last year when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court on Thursday.
Filipe Gustave Schons (23), goalkeeper with the Queenstown Rovers, admitted assaulting Queens Park player Tobi Reid on May 19 last year.
Schons was fined $750 and ordered to pay $500 emotional harm reparation by Judge Kevin Phillips, the Southland Times reported.
Crown prosecutor Sarah McKenzie said the charge arose after Schons executed a flying "karate-style" kick into Mr Reid's back during an on-field fight between several opposing players.
Schons' defence counsel Sonia Vidal said her client accepted responsibility for his actions, and could now see he had over-reacted, but at the time had stepped in because he had seen his team-mates being punched.
Schons planned to return to his native Brazil, she said.
Judge Phillips labelled Schons' actions as "reprehensible" and said it was good he planned to leave New Zealand. "The sooner you leave, perhaps . . . the better," he said.
In September, a Soccersouth judicial committee banned Schons from having anything to do with football until 2010.
