Rugby league pundit Paul Kent has been sacked from his commentary jobs after being filmed allegedly taking part in a wild street brawl outside a Sydney hotel.
Kent was dismissed by both Fox Sports, where he was a pugnacious presenter on NRL 360, and News Corp, for which he wrote regular columns in The Daily Telegraph.
The 54-year-old is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, having indicated he will seek to have a charge of affray dealt with on mental health grounds.
Police allege Kent and 35-year-old Tamer Uzun became involved in a verbal argument which turned physical outside the Three Weeds at Rozelle in the city’s inner-west about 11pm on April 27.
Footage of the altercation allegedly captured Kent calling Uzun a ‘doghead’ and charging towards him as bystanders tried to intervene.
The clash spilled across the street as Kent appeared to try to punch Uzun before being thrown into a tree and landing headfirst in the gutter.
Kent’s lawyer George Elias told a magistrate in May his client would cite cognitive impairment in his defence as he sought treatment for mental health and drinking problems.
‘In the after hours of this alleged incident he sought urgent counselling,’ Mr Elias said. ‘He has been seeing his GP who has referred him to Burwood Hospital.’
Rugby league pundit Paul Kent (above) has been sacked from his commentary jobs in the wake of being filmed allegedly taking part in a wild street brawl outside a Sydney hotel
Magistrate Scott Nash agreed to a six-week adjournment for Kent to receive a treatment plan from a new doctor and dismissed his bail reporting conditions.
Kent was stood down by Fox Sports and News Corp the day after the alleged brawl ‘pending an immediate investigation’.
The Australian reported on Monday that Kent had since parted ways with both employers.
A spokesman for News Corp and a spokeswoman for Fox Sports said neither company commented about employment matters.
Kent did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him but Daily Mail Australia has confirmed he was sacked several weeks ago.
Uzun faced Downing Centre Local Court in June when he pleaded not guilty to affray over his alleged role in the melee outside the pub.
Lawyer Bryan Wrench said he had obtained CCTV of Kent drinking at a nearby hotel in the lead up to the confrontation with his client.
‘The footage shows the other party drinking 21 schooners and shadow boxing prior to the incident,’ Mr Wrench said. ‘The other person is Mr Paul Kent.
‘We say that our client is not the assailant.’
Daily Mail Australia understands the CCTV footage was filmed at the Sackville Hotel where Kent is a regular drinker.
Uzun’s matter has been adjourned until July 19, and Mr Wrench said he would be writing to police seeking to request the charge against him be withdrawn.
In December last year Kent was found not guilty of choking and assaulting a former girlfriend.
Following his acquittal Kent told reporters outside court he was eager to return to a ‘normal life’.
‘The judge accepted what happened to the point that my barrister was not even required to make a final summation,’ he said at the time.
‘It’s been seven months I’ve had to sit there and feel like I’ve been unfairly arrested [and] unfairly charged, and I’ve had to sit there and have our public reputation lacerated by people who have used it as an opportunity.
‘The truth is out there, finally. It’s been a big cost to me, it’s been a big set back in my life. But, we’ve all got our struggles in life.
‘This is my one currently, so it’s up to me now to regroup and get back to my normal life. I can finally leave this all behind.’
