A MAN was punched in the head and dowsed with beer when a row over the World Cup was resurrected in a pub.

Aggressor Robert Gorham had been “mouthing off” before he asked his victim Ryan Vallis: “Are we going to this outside?” But when that suggestion was refused, he threw his drink in Mr Vallis’ face, and punched him on the forehead.

“As a result, blood trickled down his victim’s head; an off-duty nurse cleaned him up,” Ely magistrates were told by prosecutor Laura Mardell.

“He later went to Addenbrooke’s Hospital; he had suffered a superficial cut to the forehead.”

Gorham, 30, of Clay Street, Wisbech, first denied the offence, but later in the morning admitted a charge of assault.

“There is some history between us. I did over react and I was to blame for what happened,” said Gorham, who runs his own maintenance business.

“I apologise for wasting your time earlier this morning, I did not want to waste any more time, I want to move on.”

Gorham’s friend and Mr Vallis had been involved in an incident over the World Cup back in June, explained Miss Mardell; but Mr Vallis had believed everything was sorted out.

The victim was in the Ship pub on September 19 when Gorham started to “mouth off,” said Miss Mardell. Gorham as abusive as he referred to the previous World Cup incident, but was told by Mr Vallis: “Not tonight mate, just enjoy your drink.” Gorham walked away, but returned and assaulted him.

“The defendant lifted his arm and threw his drink over the complainant’s face, covering him and his clothing,” said Miss Mardell. “Mr Vallis felt a blow to his forehead, it was one punch.”

Gorham was fined �400 and told to pay his victim �100 compensation, along with �85 costs and a �15 surcharge.