Riki Flutey will vouch for the perils of foreign travel, particularly on the occasions when a night out leads to confrontation. The young New Zealander was unable to fly home from Argentina with his Wellington Academy team-mates because he was formally charged with causing grievous bodily harm following an incident with local youths in Rosario.

Police spokesman Juan Vaiereti confirmed to the Wellington-based newspaper the Evening Post that Flutey had been charged. "It's an imprisonable offence," he confirmed.

According to the newspaper Flutey had been placed under house arrest at the Hotel Imperio and his passport confiscated. The Wellington Academy team flew home without Flutey but assistant manager Dave Hadfield has stayed on in Argentina to assist the player. The incident for which Flutey was arrested took place at a mini-mart in the city in the early hours of the morning. The 21-year-old and three team-mates were arrested after a local youth, Gabriel Capotosti, was punched.

The other Wellington Academy players, 22-year-old Ross Filipo, Apoua Stewart and Shannon Paku, both 21, were released after supplying Judge Artacho with written statements. Flutey declined to make a statement. This is in compliance with the Argentine law. According to the Evening Post, Flutey and his team-mates had returned from a birthday party. They stopped at the mini-mart to buy food and drink. Although reports differ about what happened next, it is believed it involved an argument over a game of table soccer. A scuffle broke out in which Capotosti was injured. The Wellington players left the scene and were later arrested.

According to the newspaper, the injured youth's father, Hector Capotosti, said his son's head was "dented", with his nose and right eye-socket broken. It is believed that he may have to undergo surgery.