A former football coach who punched a young linesman during a match has been spared jail.
Robert Williams-Jones was the manager of Amlwch Town FC when he punched a linesman in a match in which his team eventually lost 8-0 to a rival team in North Wales.
The linesman, who was a member of the visiting Penrhyndeudraeth FC team, was sent to the ground after a blow to the chin just 15 minutes into the North Wales Coast West Premier League match in April 2024.
Footage of the punch near the shelters was widely shared online as police launched an investigation into the incident.
Williams-Jones, of Eilian, Llaneilian, near Amlwch, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm during the match.
The 43-year-old was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months at Caernarfon Magistrates' Court on Monday.
He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 compensation.
The video showed the linesman return to his feet as the staff member returns to his bench, before Penrhyn boss Riccardo Pellegrino walks over and helps his player to his feet.
Robert Williams-Jones (pictured) was the coach of Amlwch Town FC when he punched a linesman after his team lost 8-0 to a rival team in North Wales.
Footage shows the Amlwch linesman and coach crossing each other on the touchline in the first half.
Williams-Jones then punches the volunteer linesman in the face and knocks him to the ground.
The rest of Team Penrhyn then rushes to the scene, but Pellegrino avoids any conflict by pulling them away, although the team remains very close.
One of Pellegrino's assistants appears to talk to the figure who punched him to try to calm him down, while other players from the local bench approach.
Amlwch Town said they had cut ties with the former manager, who was co-manager in May 2022, shortly after the incident and apologized to both Penrhyn and the linesman.
In an earlier statement, the club said: “As a club, we are truly saddened by the events of the weekend.”
North Wales Police previously said: “We were called shortly after 4pm on Saturday 27 April to reports of an assault during a football match in Amlwch.”
Penrhyn would win the game 8-0 in a dominant performance in the amateur clash.
Cai Henshaw scored four in the emphatic victory, while Tom Hughes scored twice and Deio Hughes and Gwion Davis got the other two.
Pellegrino added on Facebook after the incident: “Your behavior on the field after what happened was impeccable, I'm proud to coach this fantastic group of guys.”
The Penryhn players rushed to the scene before visiting coach Riccardo Pellegrino dismissed them.
'I'm proud of all of you COYC.'
The Welsh Federation's CEO confirmed on social media that they were aware of the incident and condemned the attack.
A statement from Penrhyn after the match read: 'A fantastic result and performance from the boys today.
“Unfortunately the game was marred by an incident which occurred approximately 15 minutes into the game when a Penrhyn player, acting as a volunteer linesman, was assaulted.”