A Canberra futsal player has been found guilty of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm when he punched a man during an out-of-control brawl, which forced the game to be called off.
The brawl broke out after an aggressive game between the Kolo and Big Ball teams in December 2015, with the referee describing it as "essentially uncontrollable".
Kerim Hidic, 22, admitted to hitting the man in the eye area, arguing he had done it to protect his friend who was being grabbed by the victim.
The victim suffered facial fractures and damage to one eye.
In a police interview played to the court, Hidic had said he felt bad about hitting the victim, describing the game leading up to the fight as "dirty".
Referee Uros Rokvic told the ACT Supreme Court he believed the fight started when two Kolo supporters ran down and attacked a Big Ball player who had been sent off after a foul.
He said when the fight broke out there was a "ball of players wrestling each other", and the victim was trying to separate them.
The jury deliberated for two hours before reaching its guilty verdict.
Hidic has been released on bail, to be sentenced next month.
