Sydney high school calls police after umpire’s son who suffered a broken jaw in a brutal attack on the pitch is threatened on the playground and told ‘your dad started it’
A Sydney high school has called police after the referee’s son who was assaulted after a football match was threatened and taunted on the playground and online.
Khoder Yaghi, 45, suffered a broken jaw in an alleged attack in southwest Sydney two weeks ago, with suspended player Adam Abdallah, 25, accused of perpetrating the attack.
Mr. Yaghi, a father of four, has revealed that one of his sons has struggled to come to terms with the attack, made worse by students at his school bullying him.
On Tuesday, the school contacted the police after threats made to the boy via online chat groups were discovered.
“Keep the kids out of here… People have said to him, ‘Your dad started it,’ and we just told him to ignore it and walk away,” Mr. Yaghi told the Daily telegram.
A referee’s son allegedly assaulted is targeted by school bullies
Referee Khodr Yaghi, 45, was assaulted after the full-time whistle blew at an amateur football match at Padstow Park, Sydney’s southwest, on May 28.
NSW Police have confirmed investigations are underway after being called to the school regarding threats of violence.
The referee will be sidelined for a long period of time – believed to be between three and six months – before being able to return to the field.
He hopes he can use his free time to educate people as football’s governing bodies try to stop violence in their sport.
“If I have to be a victim to get to a better place (in contact with sports safety), I’m happy to be,” he said.
Every contact sport involves violence. But people don’t know how to lose. We have to accept that winning and losing is part of the game.’
He has revealed that police were called to a school after one of his sons was threatened
Reflecting on the alleged incident, he added: “God took care of me that night…I really thought I was going to die.
“I’ve been having nightmares, I’m afraid people will come and kill me and suffocate me. I wake up every two hours.’
Abdallah has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was denied bail last week. He must appear in court next month.