A FOOTBALLER fractured another player's eye socket during a "bad tempered" five-a-side game in a Clacks school hall, a court has heard.

Alva man Alan Comrie, 29, knocked his victim to the ground with a shattering blow to the head that left him permanently scarred.

The incident happened on May 25 this year after the pair argued about two late tackles during the game in the gym at Alloa Academy, Clackmannanshire.

The former Sauchie Juniors player then appeared appeared before Sheriff John Mundy at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday and pleaded guilty on indictment to the charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Prosecutor Siobhan Monks said: "This happened during a five-a-side football match in a school hall. The victim regularly plays there, and the accused plays there from time-to-time.

"During the match there was a late tackle made on the accused by [the complainer], and there was a coming-together and words were exchanged.

"The game continued, but was more bad tempered after that, and then the accused carried out a late tackle on [the complainer].

"Immediately there was another coming together...They squared up to each other and the accused punched [him] in the face."

Miss Monks said the victim was immediately seen by other players to have a cut on his eye, and he was bleeding. He was given first aid at the hall and then taken to hospital.

Doctors found he had sustained the fracture to the right eye socket, and three cuts round the eye which required nine stitches, leaving scarring that would be permanent.

The incident was reported to the police the next day, and Comrie was arrested.

He refused to comment when interviewed, and said nothing in reply to caution and charge.

Defence solicitor Mike Lowrie said Comrie had not had any intention of injuring the opposing player.

He claimed: "There was a lot of niggling from both parties. It was a fairly bad tempered match."

He added that his client was in full-time employment, and in a stable relationship, though currently living with his parents.

Sheriff Mundy ordered Comrie, of Brookfield Place, to pay the complainer £500 compensation, and also imposed a £500 fine.

He said: "I think it's a very serious matter, but I do take into account the context in which this assault took place."