A 25-year-old man has been charged over Friday’s alleged attack on a football referee in suburban Sydney, described as “disgusting and cowardly” by the New South Wales sports minister.
Khodr Yaghi, 45, is recovering in Liverpool hospital after three teeth were knocked out and his jaw was broken in three places when allegedly attacked after the amateur game in Padstow.
Footage of the incident appeared to show that after falling to the ground, the referee was punched at least three times and appeared to be kicked.
After the footage went viral on social media, a 25-year-old man presented himself to Bankstown police on Sunday afternoon and was arrested.
Late on Sunday night police charged the man with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and affray.
The sports minister Steve Kamper, a past president of Sydney Olympic Football Club, was among those to personally offer his support and assistance to Yaghi.
“This is one of the worst attacks I’ve ever seen at any sporting event at any level,” Kamper said in a statement. “This was a disgusting and cowardly attack. It goes without saying that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable.”
He said community sport had to be somewhere everyone could feel safe and there was zero tolerance for “this kind of cowardly thuggery”.
Yaghi said despite the attack he planned to return to refereeing once he recovered.
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,” Kamper said.
Yaghi has officiated in Sydney for decades, including in the NSW National Premier League, Australian football’s third tier.
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He was a sideline official in Friday’s match between Greenacre Eagles and Padstow Hornets and was helped by players from both teams.
The alleged attacker was a Greenacre player who was serving a suspension.
Greenacre has withdrawn from the rest of the men’s premier league winter season and promised to help the association impose appropriate sanctions.
“This serves as a reminder to all that violence will not be tolerated at our club,” the club committee said.
Abuse has been cited as a core reason several football codes have difficulty in recruiting and retaining officials.
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