A Canberra futsal player suffered a broken eye socket after tensions between teams erupted into an all-in brawl at a first grade match at the Australian National University, a trial has heard.
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Players and spectators clashed during a heated game at the university's indoor sports centre, sparking the punch-up in December 2015. The game between the Big Ball and Kolo FC teams was called off.
One of the players from the Big Ball team ran into the fight to help a friend who he said was on the ground and getting kicked in the back of the head.
He grabbed the alleged attacker from behind before Kolo FC's goalkeeper, Kerim Hidic, struck him in the face with such force he fractured bones around his eye in two places, prosecutors say.
The injury caused the man's eye to sink back in his head. He had surgery to help fix its outward appearance but still suffered vision problems.
Mr Hidic, 22, went on trial in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty and says he acted in self defence of his friend.
Prosecutor Soraya Saikal-Skea, in her opening address to the jury, said the fight began moments after the referee called off the match for the second time that night.
A Big Ball player had thrown a punch at Mr Hidic that prompted four of his friends, who were watching the game, to join in. People were soon "hitting and being hit", the court was told.
Ms Saikal-Skea said Mr Hidic had been among a group of "aggressors" who kicked and punched, while the alleged victim had been a "peacemaker" who had seen his friend on the ground and tried to restrain the attacker.
The court heard Mr Hidic's punch to the man's face instantly brought the brief fight to a standstill.
Mr Hidic went to police six weeks later and admitted he dealt the blow, telling officers: "I was just in the adrenaline, in the moment.
"I didn't know what was happening, I just wanted to get out."
The jury heard it would not be disputed the alleged victim suffered grievous bodily harm.
Rather, the case would revolve around whether Mr Hidic's actions were reckless and he threw the punch even though he realised his actions would injure the man.
Ms Saikal-Skea said the defendant's actions were "excessive in the extreme", "not proportionate" and didn't count as self defence of another person.
Mr Hidic's barrister, Jason Moffett, told the jury the match had been highly competitive and the referee had brandished at least one yellow card before the game was eventually called off.
He said police questioned Mr Hidic on the force of the blow and he told them: "I wouldn't say it was all-out strength; more protective".
Mr Moffett argued his client used reasonable force to defend himself and his friend and the Crown could not disprove he acted in self defence.
The alleged victim gave evidence the social game was played "with some intensity" and Kolo FC supporters had tense verbal exchanges with Big Ball players before offering to "take it out to the carpark".
He said he left the centre but ran back inside when he heard the fight break out to protect his younger brother and friends.
The man saw his friend getting kicked in the head and "basically hugged" the alleged attacker before he felt a "serious impact" to his cheek and fell to the ground.
He was taken to hospital where he got stitches to treat the wound. He later had cosmetic surgery but still suffered double vision, the court heard.
The man denied, under cross-examination, that he tackled his friend's attacker and said he "bear-hugged" him.
The trial continues in front of Chief Justice Helen Murrell.
