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Sunday league goalkeeper who knocked out a referee pleads guilty to grievous bodily harm

Related Topics: league, guilt, Karl Smith, Horsford

A Sunday league goalkeeper who has been banned from playing football for life after knocking out a referee has pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Horsford United's Aaron Wick punched Karl Smith after the official awarded Feltwell FC a penalty during their match in September last year.

As well as being rendered unconscious by the blow, Smith suffered a broken cheekbone which had to be repaired with a metal plate that was permanently inserted into his face.

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Fans stopped 36-year-old Wick from leaving the pitch while they waited for police to arrive, and he admitted what he had done as soon as the authorities were on the scene.