Sailors get community service over US brawl

Two Australian sailors who got into a fight over politics and football have been sentenced to 90 days of community service in San Diego.

Twenty-six-year-old Philip Ferres and 25-year-old Kolis Barba were on shore leave in San Diego last year when they met 28-year-old Jeffrey Wilkinson at a bar.

The three men went on to a party where an argument broke out about the relative merits of American football and rugby league.

The end result was that Mr Wilkinson suffered a broken nose, a broken rib and a suspected broken eye socket. He also had to have 30 stitches in his face.

The sailors were facing up to seven years in jail, but last month they pleaded guilty to lesser charges as part of a plea bargain.

The Superior Court of San Diego has sentenced them to work out their community service at the San Diego Naval Base.

With time off for good behaviour they could be home in Queensland within two months.