A footballer has been jailed for three months after being convicted of kicking an opponent in the face during an amateur match in Bradford.

Assistant Recorder Jennifer Kershaw QC told 34-year-old Richard Smith that his behaviour brought the sport into disrepute and set a very bad example.

Smith, of Scargill House, Otley Road, Bradford, had denied assaulting 18-year-old student Lee Cranston while playing for Bradford club Green Lane against Apperley Bridge-based Crag Road United in the West Riding County Amateur League in March last year.

FA officials said last night the jail sentence handed out to Smith should act as a warning to other troublemakers.

Roy Carter, secretary of the West Riding County Amateur FA, said: "People who play the game can't think that because they're on a football pitch they're above the law."

And Crag Road United's secretary Bob Knight welcomed the sentence.

"He deserves it. Our lad was standing near the penalty area when he came at him with a flying kick in the mouth," he said.

"It was completely out of nothing and he lost of couple of teeth and had to have stitches in his mouth. The police were called and an ambulance to take him to hospital. Their secretary was very sorry about it. Three months might seem a lot but it was a very extreme case."

After a trial, Smith was found guilty of assault, but his barrister Robin Frieze indicated yesterday at Bradford Crown Court that he still maintained he did not kick Mr Cranston.

Mr Frieze highlighted the fact that Smith had been playing local football for 15 years without being involved in any trouble during games.

Chief Inspector Phil Sedgwick, of Eccleshill police, said an alleged assault on a football field would be treated exactly the same as any other similar incident.

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