Football manager who sucker-punched linesman banned from the game for life

A football manager has received a lifetime ban after sucker-punching a linesman while his team were being thrashed.

Video footage caught the moment Robert Williams-Jones, who used to manage Amlwch Town FC in north Wales, wallop the young man on April 27 last year.

It happened at an amateur league home match against PenPenrhyndeudraeth FC, which the visiting team ultimately won by an impressive 8-0.

Williams-Jones left his position after the match and and the North Wales Coast Football Association disciplinary panel has now given him a lifetime suspension from the game.

He must also pay a fine of £3,000 and £50 in costs.

In January, William-Jones was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after pleading guilty to the charge.

He was sentenced at Caernarfon Magistrates Court to 24 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 in compensation.

The footage shows the linesman – a member of Penrhyndeudraeth FC – fall to the ground after the blow.

Within seconds Penrhyndeudraeth’s coaches sprint to his aid, while shouting at William Jones.

Amlwch Town FC said they had cut ties with the former manager shortly after the incident and apologised to both Penrhyndeudraeth and the linesman.

In a statement, the club said: ‘As a club we have been truly saddened by the events on the weekend.’

Amlwch Town was also been given a £2,500 fine, with £2,000 of that suspended for a year.

The NWCFA Disciplinary Panel said: ‘There is no place for aggression or assault in football within this area association. The NWCFA will continue to take robust action on any instances of abuse.

‘The NWCFA will not be making any further comment.’

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