Soccer Extreme : An Aston Villa fan has admitted assaulting a linesman by throwing a coin at him at a Premier League match. John Billington pleaded guilty to a single count of battery at Birmingham Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced next month.
Billington, 43, of Beechey Close, Great Barr, threw a 50p piece at referee's assistant Phil Sharp during Villa's 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on 18 October.Mr Sharp needed treatment to his head after the incident at Villa Park.
Billington is the managing director of an engineering firm employing seven people.
He didn't intend to hit anybody - it was just a sheer moment of madness
Billington's lawyer
The father-of-two had been a season ticket holder at Villa Park since 1977.
He had drunk six pints of beer before throwing the coin from the Trinity Road Stand, magistrates were told.
Prosecutor Nasreen Ashraf said: "Approximately three minutes before the end of the match, Mr Sharp felt a blow to the right-hand side of his forehead.
"At the same time he saw something shiny lying on the floor and he realised he had been hit on the head by some type of missile."
He contacted the referee via his radio headset and play was delayed while he was treated for a 1.5cm-long cut.
Pelted ... Prem boss Harry Redknapp checks on assistant referee Phil Sharp
'Very ashamed'
Billington had handed himself in to police following the incident.
His defence solicitor Harman Bal said he had not targeted the linesman and had thrown the coin in a "moment of madness".
He added: "He accepts his actions were reckless, but he did not intend to cause any harm to the complainant or anyone else on the pitch.
"He goes to every home game and most games away. He didn't intend to hit anybody - it was just a sheer moment of madness.
"He's very ashamed of his actions."
Magistrates granted Billington unconditional bail and ordered reports to be prepared with a view to a community-based punishment.