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.
