An amateur footballer punched another player in the head after his shirt was ripped on the pitch during a match.

Jamie Gillen punched one of his opponents during a Sunday league game which was being played in Rochester.

The 26-year-old hit Adam Palmer towards the end of the game after his shirt was ripped during a tackle and left Mr Palmer with a cut above his right eye, forcing the referee to stop the game.

Mr Palmer suffered a two-inch cut and was left with a bloodshot eye for several weeks after the incident.

At the time of the attack on October 16 last year, Gillen, of River Drive, Strood, refused to give his name and details to the referee but was later charged with actual bodily harm and admitted the offence when he appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on May 11.

District Judge William Nelson heard Mr Palmer suffered not only the two inch cut but also had bruising and vision problems, and didn’t go out for a week afterwards.

Sidumiso Moyo, prosecuting, said: “It was towards the end of the game and his shirt is ripped and he goes towards Mr Palmer and carries out a simple punch to the head.

“Mr Palmer started to bleed and he had a cut above his right eye. The game was terminated and the defendant refused to give his name to the referee.

“It was a two inch cut which needed steri-strips. There were no words exchanged before the incident. It was a normal match.”

The court was told Gillen had suffered a lapse of judgement and had over-reacted when he struck Mr Palmer and didn’t mean to cause him harm. He was shocked and extremely remorseful about what he had done.

Judge Nelson told Gillen he had completely lost control. He handed him a 12-month community order which will see him complete 200 hours of unpaid work and he also ordered he pay Mr Palmer £400 compensation and £85 costs.