Footballers admit attacking rival players

Two men have admitted attacking opposition players during a six-a-side football match in the Black Country.

The attack left one player with a broken jaw and another with a fractured cheek bone, a court heard.

Violence broke out during a match between The Underdogs and the Borussia Teeth at the Sneyd School pitches in Vernon Way, Bloxwich.

A victim today told how punches were thrown when the referee's back was turned shortly after half-time in the 0-0 match.

Todd Nash, who suffered a broken cheekbone during the violence, told how the fight was sparked by an unprovoked attack on one of his fellow players at the game on March 21.

The 25-year-old Borussia Teeth player, of Heath Town, Wolverhampton, said Shaun Neville, who was on the opposing team started to attack his team-mate James Bird. When Mr Nash tried to help, he was punched in the face. Another of his friends Neil Timms, was also punched.

He said: "It started with a bit of pushing and shoving and next thing my mate was on the floor and the guy was on top of him throwing punch after punch. "We were all just shocked, we didn't throw a single punch at all."

Mr Timms, of Walsall underwent an operation after finding out his jaw was broken in two places and Mr Bird suffered bruising to his face.

Mr Nash said he was pleased his attackers had admitted the offence.

"I had to have a few weeks off work and facial surgery because of what they had done," said the online journalist.

"It's put me off playing competitive football even now that I have recovered."

Dean Simmonds , aged 32, of Winterley Lane, Rushall, and Neville, 25, both pleaded guilty to one charge of grievous bodily harm when they appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Neville of Bloxwich Lane, Beechdale, also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault. They will be sentenced on September 19.

Leisure Leagues, which runs the six-a-side football league have banned The Underdogs from the league and all the team members have now received life bans from all Leisure Leagues competitions.