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A man is in custody after an alleged attack on a Sydney soccer referee the NSW premier has branded shocking.
Khodr Yaghi, 45, is in Liverpool Hospital after having three teeth knocked out and his jaw broken in three places when he was attacked by a spectator at Padstow in Sydney’s south-west on Friday.
Adam Abdallah, 25, has been charged with affray and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. His matter was mentioned at Bankstown Local Court on Monday, where he was denied bail to face court again in June.
Footage of the incident shows Mr Yaghi being punched at least three times and appearing to be kicked while on the ground.
Speaking from his hospital bed before reconstructive surgery on Monday, he said he was lucky to be alive and did not want his children to see the extent of his injuries.
“It’s very sore at the moment,” he told Sky News on Monday. He was attacked from behind, copping three “king hits” on the back of the neck, with doctors telling him any one of the blows could have killed him. “Luckily I’m still on my feet,” he said.
The surgery could take up to three hours and his recovery could take up to eight weeks but he remains determined to fulfil his role as a volunteer at the FIFA Womens’ World Cup which kicks off in Sydney in July, despite the threat of permanent injury.
“I might lose the sense of feeling on my lips for good …. this was very upsetting,” he said.
After the video went viral on social media, Abdallah presented himself to Bankstown police on Sunday afternoon. Premier Chris Minns described the attack as “absolutely shocking and appalling”.
“My hat goes off to that referee,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“I thought he showed so much dignity getting off the ground saying nothing’s going to stop him being a referee for his local community.
“I thought that the way that man handled himself was absolutely amazing.”
Sports Minister Steve Kamper, a past president of Sydney Olympic Football Club, was among those offering support to Mr Yaghi.
“This is one of the worst attacks I’ve ever seen at any sporting event at any level,” he told AAP in a statement. “This was a disgusting and cowardly attack. It goes without saying that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable.”
Mr Kamper said community sport had to be somewhere everyone could feel safe and there was zero tolerance for “this kind of cowardly thuggery”.
Governing body Football NSW on Sunday condemned the attack and said it would support the local competition, Bankstown District Amateur Football Association, with its investigation.
“Football NSW have assured me they will be taking the strongest possible action in response to this cowardly attack,” he said.
Mr Yaghi has officiated in Sydney for decades, including in National Premier Leagues NSW, part of Australian football’s third tier.
He had been a sideline official in Friday’s match between Greenacre Eagles and Padstow Hornets and was helped by players from both teams.
Abdallah was a suspended player for the Eagles, which withdrew from the rest of the men’s premier league winter season and promised to help the association impose appropriate sanctions.
© AAP
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