Nektarios Kalaitzakis leaves Burwood Local Court today.
A Greek-Australian Canterbury Bulldogs fan has admitted it was cowardly to attack a South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter based on the colour of his jersey following the club’s Good Friday loss at ANZ Stadium.
Nektarios Kalaitzakis was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he shoulder charged 21-year-old Mathew Makaritis from behind after the match.
The physiotherapy student suffered a large cut above his eye and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment.
Mr Kalaitzakis was fined $1000 and issued a good behaviour bond by Magistrate Still at Burwood Local Court this morning.
Outside court he repeatedly said he was “very sorry” for the incident.
A statement of police facts said the attack on Mr Makaritis was “totally unprovoked.”
“When asked to describe the victim the accused stated: ‘I hit him from behind and that was a cowardly attack. I don’t know what the poor boy looked like from the front I just saw a South Sydney jersey’,” the facts say.
“When asked why he chose the victim the accused said: ‘I guess after the game emotions ran a little high. It’s not an excuse but I was copping it a bit from certain South Sydney fans’.”
Mr Kalaitzakis’ Legal Aid lawyer Matthew Smith said he his client was “extremely remorseful” and that the incident was out of character.
Outside court the Wiley Park resident repeatedly said he was “very sorry” for the incident.
Mr Makaritis was also in court for the brief mention yesterday, supported by his parents Dora and Michael.
The Croyden Park resident said was he knocked out after the attack, which left him with pain in his arms and a scar on his head.
“As long as the guy who has done this now has learned from his lesson that’s all that matters,” he said.
“I'm just lucky that there’s nothing seriously wrong with me.”
Mr Makaritis’ mother Dora shed tears as she spoke of how her son had spent weeks recovering from the incident.
Outside court she showed photographs of her son lying on a stretcher in a neck brace.
“To get a call like that its quite devastating — to not know what state Mathew was going to be in when we got to the hospital.
“It’s quite upsetting.”
The grand final rematch was marred by violence as fans hurled bottles and other projectiles on to the field after a controversial last-minute penalty to the Rabbitohs giving the Bunnies an 18-17 win.
A touch judge suffered a fractured shoulder blade as he fell while running to safety.
Following the match, police released imaged of 13 people who they wanted to speak with over the projectile throwing incidents.
Five have since come forward to speak to police and are facing lifetime bans from the NRL.
Mr Kalaitzakis was one of two men arrested and charged with assault after the game.
A second man was charged over an unrelated domestic violence incident.
An interchange official suffered a fractured shoulder blade as he fell while running to safety.
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