15/12/2008

SPL Midfielder Fined For Casino Attack

A Scottish Premier League footballer has been fined £500 after admitting kicking a doorman in the head after being "pestered" at a casino.

Hibs star Filipe Morais pleaded guilty to assault at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

The 23-year-old Portuguese midfielder had got into an argument with Robert Brown on a night out at Maxims casino in York Place, Edinburgh on 26 September at 5.30am.

Witnesses saw Morais and his companions speaking to Mr Brown and an argument broke out. Mr Brown was punched in the face and knocked to the ground during the melee and Morais kicked his head as he lay on the ground.

The doorman was subsequently treated by the Scottish Ambulance Service for a burst nose and a split lip.

Solicitor George More, defending, said Morais was being "pestered" by Mr Brown and lashed out "in frustration" after being provoked.

"Young footballers are quite often harassed or picked on or spoken to when they go out and my client went out that evening for a drink with a friend," said Mr More.

"My client kicked out when he was down as an act of frustration because the last part of his evening had been utterly spoiled by these two men.

"He was immediately regretful that he had done it," the lawyer added.

Morais has already been fined £800 by the club for being out the night before a match and is expected to be docked two-weeks wages for the assault, said Mr More.

He also said his client had only kicked out once at Mr Brown and had not been responsible for punching him or knocking him down.

The SPL player who earns £1,300 a week has not played for the team since October. He was signed to the club last July and has scored twice in 36 appearances.

Scott Lindsay, chief executive of Hibernian FC, said: "The club cannot condone this behaviour.

"Filipe accepts that what he did was wrong and was a bad example for the many thousands of young people who look up to football players.

"Now that the matter has been settled by the courts, Filipe will be dealt with through the club's own disciplinary procedure, the outcome of which will remain private between the club and player."

(JM)

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