Indoor soccer assault: Michael Danilov sentenced for breaking opponent’s leg during game
A state soccer player has been red-carded by a County Court judge for breaking an opponent’s leg during a “physical and aggressive” match, when the former star lost the plot and turned on a rival player.
South East
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A hot-headed soccer player who broke his opponent’s leg after several physical and aggressive encounters during an out-of-control indoor soccer match has been handed a good behaviour bond.
Michael Danilov was sentenced in the County Court on May 31 after he pleaded guilty to one charge of recklessly causing serious injury.
Danilov, a former state-level soccer player, broke his opponent Michael Hall’s leg late in the March 16, 2016 match.
The court heard Hall had been aggressive with Danilov, who lists Cranbourne and Noble Park secondary colleges as former schools on social media, when going for the ball, and the pair clashed physically several times.
Prosecutors alleged Danilov said he “would break (Hall’s) legs if he did it again”.
The revved-up rivals were in a battle for a loose ball when Danilov kicked Hall in the leg.
The action earned a Danilov a red card and Hall a broken leg.
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The prosecution alleged Danilov had warned Hall “this would happen if he went for the ball”.
Witnesses said they heard Danilov say Hall should “know his limitations, if he can’t take a hit then he shouldn’t be going in for the challenges”.
Danilov was also heard saying: “If Michael was going to play rough then he should expect rough back.”
Danilov, during a police interview in August, 2016, said: “You (Hall) going into me is not going to work out good and I’m going to do it.”
Judge Cannon accepted Danilov had warned Hall to “keep it up and you’ll be hurt” but said there was no evidence he had warned he was going to break his rival’s leg.
She said it was important to put Danilov’s actions into the proper context as the soccer match had been a “rather willing one”.
“There was a good deal of sledging among both teams and mutual antagonism,” Judge Cannon said.
“I understand the umpire was losing control of the game and tempers were running high.”
However, she said Danilov was “foolish and reckless” and kicking Hall’s leg with enough force to break it was “no accident”.
“(You) ought to have been more restrained in your behaviour,” she said.
“(Your) conduct was dreadful and went beyond the scope of consent to physicality that a soccer match involves.”
Judge Cannon took into account Danilov lack of priors and accepted he had “heartfelt remorse”.
She sentenced him to a two year good behaviour bond without conviction.
Danilov was also ordered to donate $1500 to Doctors Without Borders.