Football referee whose jaw was broken in viral fight video appears in court wearing a mask that covers his entire face – as he is accused of bashing a woman
- Khodr Ahmad Yaghi was on trial for assault
- He was allegedly punched during a club game in a viral video
The football referee who received widespread support after his jaw was broken in an on-pitch fight must wait eight months to challenge charges of assaulting a woman in a pub in northern Sydney.
Khodr Ahmad Yaghi, 45, will be heard on February 14, charged with assault with bodily harm and recklessly grievous bodily harm following the incident at Hornsby’s Railway Hotel while working as a bouncer on March 3.
He attended Downing Center court on Monday in a black Adidas tracksuit and beanie with a mask that covered his entire face when the date of his hearing was set, having previously pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The Berala man’s jaw was broken in three places on April 28 at a local football match in southwest Sydney.
Khodr Ahmad Yaghi’s jaw was broken in an incident at a local football match in southwest Sydney on April 28. In the photo, Yaghi crouches on the floor in front of his alleged attacker
Yaghi is charged with assault with bodily harm and recklessly grievous bodily harm after an incident at Hornsby’s Railway Hotel while working as a bouncer in March
His alleged assailant, Adam Abdallah, is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The amateur boxer was released on bail on May 31 after a new video emerged, which the prosecutor said “changed the narrative” of the incident.
It appeared that Yaghi waved first, before falling to the ground and being attacked by 25-year-old Abdallah.
The veteran referee, who has worked in Sydney for decades, was overwhelmed with support after the original video went viral.
A GoFundMe set up in his name raised more than $16,000 in donations at the time.
NSW Sports Minister Stephen Kamper, a former president of the Sydney Olympic Football Club, presented Yaghi with a football signed by FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
Yaghi went to Downing Center court on Monday in a black Adidas tracksuit and beanie and bizarrely donned a face mask over his eyes
Yaghi’s alleged assailant, Adam Abdallah (pictured), is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and arguing
“Volunteers and referees are the backbone of our grassroots sport,” he wrote on Facebook in May.
“We need to make sure they are respected and safe!”
Clubs across the state held a guard of honor for referees in the round following the incident in solidarity with Yaghi and to protest match officials.
He remains free on bail.