Footballer Chia Khider cleared of assault

Chia Khider told Jamie Trimble "stop ******* diving" after the midfield player had been accused of trying to con the referee into giving him a penalty.

Minutes later, the two men came together in the centre of the pitch in an incident which left Mr Trimble lying unconscious on the floor.

Mr Khider, 31, was alleged to have punched Mr Trimble from behind, cutting his face and sending him reeling to the ground.

But the right-back claimed he accidentally caught his opponent in the mouth while trying to shake him off as the pair ran towards the ball together.

The incident led to players from both teams to begin jeering and squaring up to each other, forcing the referee to abandon the game.

The police were later called and Mr Khider was arrested and charged with common assault.

But magistrates in Poole, found him not guilty after the defendant's solicitor claimed Mr Trimble had been dishonest on the pitch and in court.

The court heard Mr Khider was playing for Sunday league team Loch and Quay in an away game at East Christchurch FC at the Grange Road sports field in Christchurch on September 29, 2019.

Tempers flared after Mr Trimble went down in the opposition's penalty area under a challenge.

Mr Khider told the court: "He dived and tried to con the ref. I tapped him on the head and told him to stop ******* diving. The game carried on."

Daniel Marsh, prosecuting, said matters came to a head when the two players ran alongside each other to chase the ball.

He said: "While it is clear that there were some lapses in the witnesses memories, they are very consistent in stating that Mr Trimble was in front of Mr Khider who raised an arm which connected with him.

"All parties have stated that before this incident Mr Trimble did not have injuries so I would submit that it was this incident which caused them.

"I submit that diving was the reason Mr Khider got angry and punched out causing the injury."

Mr Trimble claimed Mr Khider had pushed him after the diving incident. He said: "He started pointing and shouting at me, accusing me of diving. He was very aggressive. I didn't do anything in response.

"After he pushed me he ran out to the field of play and stopped in the centre circle suddenly and we exchanged a few words

"I walked away from it and next thing I remember I'm on the floor. I took what I assume was a punch on my left jaw.

"It was a strong punch which left me unconscious and sent me straight to the floor.

"There was quite a lot of shouting and shoving between the two teams and the ref had to call the game off."

But Mr Khider maintained that he did not punch Mr Trimble and that he had made accidental contact with him.

He said: "I am a fast player. I overtook him on the right side after his team's goalkeeper threw the ball and he was rushing to get to the other side of the pitch.

"He grabbed my left arm out of frustration and pulled me back, and I naturally tried to free my arm."

When asked whether he punched him, he replied: "Absolutely not."

He said he felt something wet on his fingertips as he pulled his arm free, which he believed was Mr Trimble's mouth.

Jonathan Morrissey, defending, said there was "significant doubt" over the prosecution's version of events.

He said: "There is dishonesty on the pitch and in the court and you will remember Mr Trimble accepting there were inconsistencies with his police statement from December 2019.

"I say that trying to shake someone off is not criminal activity."

Mr Khider, from Bournemouth, denied the charge of assault of which he was acquitted following a trial yesterday (Thurs, July 29).