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.
Grem
Roar Rookie
As we said – these events are terrible, but they happen in ALL sports. Why is football always the one where it is highlighted? And why is it condoned and even talked up and used as a promotional tool for SOO? I hate the double standards.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
thugby league, as the kiwis call it. I played junior rugby league in Brisbane and so too my boys, in Canberra and Penrith. Know all about crowd behavior.
Grem
Roar Rookie
https://www.google.com.au/search?client=safari&hl=en-au&sxsrf=APwXEdecRT_HCzlw2O0n0lIm7-c4cze-Zw:1683109941077&q=fighting+during+state+of+origin&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjr9p6R-dj-AhUBp1YBHcfyCZsQ0pQJegQIDRAB&biw=428&bih=746&dpr=3#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:c737f224,vid:nLnNahZF-VA And this is all OK too! They even use it to advertise the game. And listen to the commentary – it’s all OK – just protecting a player.
Grem
Roar Rookie
https://fb.watch/khYFfayw6g/?mibextid=v7YzmG I’m not sure if this will play, but does this look similar to the clip shown in the article?
Grem
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Fair comment - rehabilitation is always better, if possible.
moe_syzlak
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whats wrong with sydney people chris? ill let you explain why youre being asked this question – own up
Nick
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I disagree. The last thing we want is to go down the US route of over-incarceration. Society and the system already does a pretty good job of punishment without the need for prisons. The man is already on remand. He's probably lost whatever menial job he currently has, he's going to be paying a bit for lawyer fees, he is definitely going to be on the hook for any civil claim the referee may lodge, he's going to have to pay a significant fine to Football NSW, and he's getting a certain life ban from the game. Society is already going to whack him hard - and he deserves it. Make no mistake. He'll probably get a conviction recorded, which will make his life much harder in future as well. He can kiss goodbye to ever working overseas, and travelling overseas will be harder, not to mention his job prospects here will shrink. And he deserves that too. No need for prison unless the NSW cabinet wants to make an example of him - and if they do, ok.
Grem
Roar Rookie
We are too soft.
Nick
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Actually Grem, on second look...chances are he might actually walk. As assaults go that's actually pretty low grade. The only thing getting him a prison stint is the public nature of the incident. He might just get time served on bail
Nick
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Ah yeah, but there are key differences here. 1. There is indisputable video proof of the scale of assault. Most assaults tend not to be recorded so you can't verify the full extent. 2. The referee was absolutely and unequivocally defenceless and in zero way an instigator or provocateur. 3. The face this made national news and received public commentary at a ministerial level means the profile of the case will require the DPP to go harder What is beyond any doubt is that he's never playing, coaching or watching any registered football match in Australia again. Life ban for sure
Grem
Roar Rookie
Will he? My son’s a polic officer and it’s amazing how many thugs cop nothing more than a slap on the hand.
Grem
Roar Rookie
https://www.9news.com.au/national/gang-violence-fears-could-see-sydney-junior-rugby-games-cancelled/a31a8b22-d37f-4ddc-b9e1-7c1aecc79ed3 or this! But I don’t remember them being reported on. Why?
Grem
Roar Rookie
https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/dads-horrific-injuries-from-brisbane-junior-rugby-league-brawl-revealed-c-2820179 What happened at that football game was disgusting, but … I don’t remember this being reported as widely or with so much ferocity. This one looks pretty awful too.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Not at this level. Check the video. This guy was out to get the victim , no matter what. It was premeditated and worse than any cheap shot seen to regularly in suburban minor games where it may not be seen by a camera. I have never seen worse anywhere, let alone on a sports field.
Nick
Roar Rookie
He will. Don't worry. A smart lawyer will be telling him to plead guilty. He'll get a year, have a pretty torrid time of it in prison and be chastened.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
it occurs in all sports sadly, not just football but it's guaranteed newsworthy when it's football.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, this behaviour occurs occasionally at different community sporting events. This one was filmed and a jaw was broken – we have a violence issue in society generally. And as others have written – throw the book at him – he needs jail time.
mrl
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It’s hardly a football story. Does this nut-job play…what, fifth division suburban league.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Try todays Telegraph - No mention of the A League mens over the weekend. Large Bold headlines about the violence on the front page with rest of page taken up with Harvey Norman add - full double pages 4 & 5 devoted to the incident (couldnt have been pages 2 & 3 cos Harvey Norman has dibs on full page 2) - further in, an editorial mention- And the accused fronts up to court with a quote "high profile lawyer") and an entourage of supporters. Nice chap, entirely out of character it seems (excuse the 2 year ban)
c
Roar Rookie
Yeah any chance we had of playing a soccer game in the afl taxpayer funded stadium is now lost :football: