A FOOTBALLER who headbutted the referee who sent him off the pitch has been fined and banned from playing for at least seven years.

Hollington United player Joseph White, 25, of Braybrooke Road, Hastings, saw “red mist” during his team’s League clash against St Leonard’s Social, sending referee Richard Milton to hospital with a bloody nose and bruising.

Yesterday he pleaded guilty to assault over the incident on November 8 near Hastings and was ordered to pay a total of £1,025 in fines and compensation by Hastings magistrates.

Prosecuting, Jeremy King said White argued with Mr Milton after he booked him for the second time in the match, about five minutes before half time.

Mr King continued: “Mr White [told police] the game was rather heated and he had already received a yellow card.

“He stated that he had made a tackle and got another yellow card which resulted in being taken off.

“He stated that a red mist came over him and he admitted headbutting the referee.”

The court heard Mr Milton ended the match and Mr White left on the orders of his coach, before handing himself into police a few hours later.

Defending, Rosalind Crook said Mr White’s behaviour was “completely out of character” and he recognised it was “completely unacceptable”.

She added: “On that day he was playing football, as he has done since he was two or three. Football has been his life, he has played semi-professionally, has coached in the past, really it is his love in life.”

Ms Crook said the Sussex [County] Football Association has banned White from playing for life due to the assault. He can apply to play again in seven years.

Sentencing, chair of the bench David Wallis told White he had planned to “start lecturing you all about sportsmanship” but recognised the Sussex FA had taken the incident seriously.

He added: “You say you saw red and lost control momentarily. Nevertheless it was in a football match where a man was doing his job as referee.

“It was in a situation where quite a number of people I assume were watching – setting an example to other young people, particularly young people.”

He ordered White, who has no previous convictions, to pay a £400 fine, £500 compensation, £40 victim surcharge and £85 costs.