Daniel Stephen Barns punches fan over stolen Mariners cutout
A man who punched a fellow soccer fan in the face during a chaotic scene at a Central Coast Mariners semi-final game – sparked by a stolen cardboard cut-out of star player Josh Nisbet – has faced court.
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A man who punched a fellow soccer fan in the face during a chaotic scene at a Central Coast Mariners semi-final game – sparked by a stolen cardboard cutout of star player Josh Nisbet – has faced court over the assault.
Daniel Stephen Barns, 47, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Thursday at Gosford Local Court.
Barns was at the Mariners semi-final game on May 20, 2023, against Adelaide United when a large Josh Nisbet cardboard head was taken from a group.
One member of the group then gave chase to retrieve the cardboard cut out.
Barns intervened during the chase and was seen pushing the alleged victim against a toilet block wall and grabbing him by the front of the shirt, according to police facts.
A witness attempted to intervene, placing himself between the victim and the accused, with one hand on each to create some distance.
Barns then pulled away from the man and punched him with a clenched fist, striking the victim in the right eye area.
Upon arrival, police observed the victim had a small laceration to the upper right eyebrow, along with redness and swelling to the right cheekbone and eye socket area.
On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Barns attended Gosford Police Station where he made full admissions to the assault.
Barns further stated he believed he also ripped the victim’s shirt during the incident, but claimed he had only punched the victim once.
He also said he was unaware the cardboard cutout belonged to someone else and believed they were being handed out for free to fans.
Barns’ lawyer told the court his client was of good character and had already been publicly shamed.
“He was not intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Magistrate Kirralee Perry said there was a need for public denunciation of what had occurred.
“There would be anarchy in society if the court condoned people doing what you did.
“There are many other choices besides violence in public, and you did not take those other choices.”
Barns was convicted and fined $900.
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