Two men are facing jail for the manslaughter of a footballer in an attack sparked by a remark that one of the killers was "fat and ginger".
Matlock Town FC midfielder Jordan Sinnott died in hospital after suffering a fractured skull and brain damage following the assault in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on 25 January.
After a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Kai Denovan, 22, was found guilty of manslaughter, affray and common assault.
Cameron Matthews, 21, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier hearing after CCTV footage showed him striking the footballer.
A third man, 22-year-old Sean Nicholson, admitted a charge of affray at a previous hearing.
Prosecutors said Denovan "flew immediately into a rage" after Mr Sinnott joined in with what the footballer believed was the defendant's "self-deprecating humour".
The court heard that Denovan followed 25-year-old Mr Sinnott and two friends into a pub called The Vine before telling the footballer he was a "good-looking lad" and would have no trouble "pulling girls" - unlike himself, who was "fat and ginger".
Mr Sinnott replied: "Yes I can see that," which the prosecution said provoked the attack at about 2am.
Prosecutor Michael Auty QC told the court that Mr Sinnott was willing to apologise for any offence caused, but described Denovan, Matthews and Nicholson as a "pack hunting down and exacting retribution".
Matthews hit Mr Sinnott "two or three times" after the violence spilled out into the street outside the pub, the court heard.
Jurors were told that Matthews was "taking over" from Denovan who was "plainly hell-bent on trouble" - and who had allegedly punched Mr Sinnott twice in the face inside The Vine.
Following the trial, Nottinghamshire Police released CCTV footage which showed the final moments before Mr Sinnott was attacked.
Detective Chief Inspector Rob Routledge, who led the investigation, said Mr Sinnott was a "talented and loved young man who had many promising years ahead of him".
He added: "Matthews' and Denovan's actions in the early hours of 25 January cruelly took that future away from Jordan and changed his family's lives forever.
"Life will never be the same for Jordan's family, but I hope they will get some comfort from justice being served."
Before joining Matlock Town, Mr Sinnott played for Huddersfield Town, Altrincham, Bury, Halifax Town and Chesterfield during his career.
News of his death was met by a wave of support from the football community, with clubs donating more than 800 shirts to be displayed at his funeral and later auctioned for charity.
Manchester United captain and England player Harry Maguire was among those who donated a shirt in support.
Denovan, Matthews and Nicholson, who are all from Retford, will be sentenced at the same court on Friday.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiigFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9qb3JkYW4tc2lubm90dC10d28tbWVuLWZhY2UtamFpbC1mb3ItbWFuc2xhdWdodGVyLW9mLWZvb3RiYWxsZXItYWZ0ZXIta2lsbGVyLXdhcy1jYWxsZWQtZmF0LWFuZC1naW5nZXItMTIwMzgxNjLSAY4BaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2pvcmRhbi1zaW5ub3R0LXR3by1tZW4tZmFjZS1qYWlsLWZvci1tYW5zbGF1Z2h0ZXItb2YtZm9vdGJhbGxlci1hZnRlci1raWxsZXItd2FzLWNhbGxlZC1mYXQtYW5kLWdpbmdlci0xMjAzODE2Mg?oc=5
2020-07-28 20:38:09Z
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