24 Aug 2011

Assault charge against NZ league star dismissed

4:15 pm on 24 August 2011

An assault charge against New Zealand rugby league star Benji Marshall has been dismissed.

The West Tigers player and Kiwis captain had been accused of punching a fan of a rival club outside a McDonald's restaurant in Sydney in March this year.

A Sydney magistrate on Wednesday ruled there were other people involved in the altercation and there was not enough evidence to prove that Marshall delivered a blow to complainant Soliman Naimey's face, the ABC reports.

The player told the court he only pushed the man in the face with an open palm after he racially abused Marshall three times.

Mr Naimey says he was punched after he told Marshall that Broncos player Darren Lockyer was a better player.

Outside court, Marshall said it is good to have the matter resolved and he can now look forward to the remainder of the NRL season.