If American soccer players behaved this way, the game would be much more popular in the United States. Former international player Stig Toefting, a member of the Danish World Cup team this year, on Tuesday was sentenced to four months in prison for assaulting two restaurant employees in downtown Copenhagen, Denmark, this summer.
The 33-year-old midfielder was dining with several members of the Danish soccer squad on June 23 at the Cafe Ketchup when a dispute broke out with the staff over singing in the trendy restaurant.
Copenhagen's city court found Toefting guilty of assault, a penalty that carries a maximum of 18 months.
The Dane, who plays for English Premier League club Bolton, had denied the initial charge of aggravated assault but admitted he butted heads with an employee in the restaurant and punched another staffer after he was asked to leave.
It was not immediately known when the Dane would be jailed but his agent, Carsten Aabrink, said Toefting will play with Bolton on Sunday.
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