Man pleads guilty to soccer violence

SARAH CRAWFORD | January 25th, 2011

A SOCCER player has pleaded guilty to breaking another man's jaw during an on field blue started by racial taunts.

Thai born, Vorrapon Pontong, 26, was playing for Darwin City Buffaloes when he socked a 31-year-old player from Port Darwin FC knocking him unconscious.

The player had to undergo surgery to have a metal plate and screws fixed in his jaw.

The serious assault happened on July 11, 2009 at Nakara Sporting Oval.

Pontong's barrister Alan Woodcock said it was a "hot-headed" attack after the Buffaloes player heard someone make racial slurs at him.

"On this day he was playing soccer, he heard someone racially vilifying him, he thought it was the man so he pursued and struck that fellow."

Mr Woodcock said it was only after speaking to fellow teammates that Pontong realised the racial slurs came from another player on the opposing team.

" He has done the wrong thing to the wrong person," Mr Woodcock said.

Crown Prosecutor Tiarni McNamee said the victim was taken by surprise by Pontong who approached him from behind and punched him to the jaw.

"Violence should not be accepted particularly on the sporting field," Ms McNamee said.

Pontong pleaded guilty in Northern Territory Supreme Court to serious harm which carries a mandatory prison sentence.

He will be kept in custody until he is sentenced on Friday.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/01/25/208741_ntnews.html