Fahour hopes to avoid 'punch' conviction

Former AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour hopes he can avoid a criminal conviction after pleading guilty to punching an opposition player during a suburban footy game in Melbourne.

Fahour has pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury when he punched Dale Saddington at Whittlesea in July.

But Fahour's lawyer said his client has made an "enormous contribution" to the community and hoped to avoid a conviction.

The punch, which grounded Saddington, was caught on video.

Fahour resigned as the AFL's diversity manager after he received a 14-week ban from the suburban league, which took his career-total suspensions beyond the 16-week threshold that triggers deregistration from any Australian competition.

Fahour's case was adjourned until February 15.