Vic: Socceroo Con avoids conviction

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2001
Vic: Socceroo Con avoids conviction

By Paul Millar

MELBOURNE, April 2 AAP - The threat of a career-ending conviction for Socceroo hopeful
Con Boutsianis was lifted today when a Melbourne judge fined him $20,000 for his part
in an armed robbery.

Justice Lesley Ross told Boutsianis that he had placed his career in jeopardy by his
stupidity but if he was of good behaviour for two years no conviction would be recorded.

Boutsianis, 29, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to one charge of theft
relating to a robbery at the central Melbourne offices of the Shark Fin restaurant in
May 1998.

The striker had earlier admitted to the court his role as the getaway driver in the
robbery, which was described as an insurance fraud.

His future in the national team would have been in doubt if a conviction had been recorded,
as he could have been restricted from travelling overseas with the Socceroos.

His contract at league leading national soccer league club South Melbourne would also
have been under a cloud.

Boutsianis was last week controversially named in the 20-man Socceroo squad for this
month's World Cup qualifiers at Coffs Harbour.

It was his first international call-up and coach Frank Farina said he had been included
because of his ability and recent form.

On hearing of today's finding Farina said it was a positive outcome for the forward.

"Obviously he made a mistake and obviously he learned from it, it's positive for him
now, let's get on with it," Farina told AAP.

Despite a prolonged series of court cases involving the robbery Boutsianis has remained
one of Australia's best locally-based players.

Days after the heist, while on bail, he scored a goal for South Melbourne in the grand
final victory over Carlton.

He moved from South to Perth Glory when his involvement in the robbery become public knowledge.

He then went on loan to English club Bolton Wanderers as it pressed for promotion to
the Premier League last season but the publicity followed him and he soon returned to
Australia where he re-joined South Melbourne.

Boutsianis' appearance in court today followed the dismissal by magistrate Barbara
Cotterell, in December 1999, of armed robbery charges against him.

The case was revived earlier this year, and Boutsianis, who was described in the court
as a hopeless gambler, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of theft.

The court was told that through his naivety, Boutsianis had become entangled in a web
of debt, high-stakes gambling and fraud that resulted in a sham robbery.

His coach at South Melbourne Mike Petersen said it was a relief to see the case finally
come to a conclusion.

"It's been hanging over his head for the past three years hopefully he can now put
it behind him and get on with playing football," Petersen said.

AAP ppm/clr/cd/bwl

KEYWORD: BOUTSIANIS NIGHTLEAD

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