A magistrate who admits he's "very much a fan" of MasterChef has dished out a $1000 fine to the show's celebrity judge George Calombaris for assaulting a man at the A-League grand final.
Magistrate Peter Miszalski was unsympathetic to the chef on Friday, recording a conviction for common assault and admonishing his aggressive behaviour.
Calombaris immediately lodged an appeal against the sentence, court documents show.
The television star is disappointed by the outcome after apologising and taking full responsibility for his actions, his spokesman told AAP in a statement.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in August to assaulting a 19-year-old fan at May's season decider between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Friday heard Calombaris may have been provoked by insults shouted from the crowd after the game.
Footage played by the prosecutor showed the celebrity chef waving his Victory scarf and pointing into the crowd before moving past police and security to confront a man.
The court previously heard Calombaris called the victim a "big-mouth man" and a "dodgy c***" before punching him in the abdomen.
Mr Miszalski on Friday admitted he was a long-time fan of MasterChef - particularly when participants caramelised onions.
The magistrate's remarks elicited a brief smile from Calombaris.
But Mr Miszalski's sympathetic tone ended when he admonished Calombaris' aggressive reaction to the "yahoo" factor in the crowd.
"I suspect (media) labelled him a thug," the magistrate said when informed the highly-publicised altercation resulted in Calombaris missing out on a $300,000 ambassadorship.
"It's not as though somebody's come up to him and got into his face and abused him, he's made his way into the crowd and started to mouth off in no uncertain words.
"You don't get sucked into the drama. Once you do that you're gone."
The magistrate said he wanted to send a message that high-profile people wouldn't simply get a slap on the wrist.
"It was a very public display of aggression," he said.
"I watched those programs many years ago and was very much a fan. To see a man like this come before the court is a tragedy."
After pleading guilty the celebrity chef stood down from his role as Victory's No.1 ticket holder, banned himself from A-League games for 12 months and expressed sorrow for the incident.
Calombaris was subdued as he left court on Friday quickly pushing past reporters before he climbed into a waiting car without making any comment.
His appeal is scheduled to be heard at the Downing Centre District Court on January 31.
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