Jordon Ibe, former Liverpool winger, has been spared jail after pleading guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend.
Ibe, 30, assaulted his former partner Amie Mayson outside her home in Lambeth, south London, on 14 December last year, Croydon Magistrates' Court heard.
Prosecutor Aya Alshekhili told the court that the attack happened after she confronted him and demanded he repay her money she said he owed.
Ibe refused, saying "no, I'm going to be a prick", and when Ms Mayson called him a "druggy", he grabbed her arm "hard" and then her hair, the prosecutor said.
The court heard that he pulled a braid from Ms Mayson's hair during the altercation.
Ibe, of Chislehurst, southeast London, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in July, after denying it in March.
Representing himself during the proceedings, Ibe said that he "made a serious mistake", adding "I understand it is wrong".
He continued: "I am genuinely remorseful. I've had to look at myself in the mirror. I cannot change what I did but will take responsibility for what I do next."
Magistrate Brij Kalia sentenced Ibe on Friday to a 12-month community order, 80 hours of unpaid work, and 27 days of rehabilitation activity.
Ibe was also ordered to pay £764, comprising £114 of surcharge and £650 in court costs.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Mayson said: "The assault has had a significant impact on me both physically and mentally."
She said despite remaining "feelings of fear", she felt "compassion" for Ibe, adding forgiveness had been part of her "healing journey".
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The footballer made 58 appearances for Liverpool from 2012 to 2016, before spells at Derby County, Birmingham City, and AFC Bournemouth.
The former England Under-21 international most recently played for Lokomotiv Sofia in the Bulgarian First League until June.
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