Football referee Khodr Ahmad Yaghi facing assault, grievous bodily harm charges

A referee targeted in an alleged bashing during a football match in Sydney has been charged with assaulting a woman while working as a bouncer in a separate incident. Here’s the latest.

Football referee Khodr Ahmad Yaghi facing assault, grevious bodily harm charges, outside Hornsby Local Court.

A referee who was the target of an alleged bashing during a football match in Sydney has been charged with assaulting a woman in a separate incident, while working as a bouncer in Hornsby.

Khodr Ahmad Yaghi, 45, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and reckless grevious bodily harm after allegedly assaulting a woman just before midnight on March 3 at Railway Hotel in Hornsby.

The Berala man underwent jaw surgery in April after the alleged assault during the football match, before facing Hornsby Local Court on June 7.

Yaghi pleaded not guilty in April and remains on bail following the alleged offence.

The matter will proceed to a hearing.

Football referee Khodr Ahmad Yaghi (L) leaving Hornsby Local Court with his lawyer Mohammed Zreika.

The charges come after Yaghi was allegedly assaulted by a spectator during a football match.

He was allegedly punched several times by amateur boxer Adam Abdallah during the match in Padstow Park.

However, a Supreme Court bail hearing last week for Abdallah showed new footage, which appeared to show Mr Yaghi throw the first punch.

Soccer referee Khodr Ahmad Yaghi facing assault, grevious bodily harm charges

Referees across Sydney led a 30-second round of applause prior to kick-off at matches across NSW last month in a “pre-match symbol of solidarity” in honour of Yaghi.

The incident sparked new safety measures to keep officials safe.

More than $8000 was raised in under 24 hours to fund Yaghi’s surgery by members of the public.

Referee Khodr Yaghi at home in western Sydney. Picture: John Grainger

Mr Yaghi’s wife Fay Yaghi told The Telegraph her husband wouldn’t stop refereeing despite the incident.

“He was referee-of-the-year for two years … This won’t stop him,” Mrs Yaghi said.

Yaghi was left bleeding with a fractured jaw and three missing teeth as a result of the incident in May.

Yaghi and his lawyer Mohammed Zreika declined to comment and the matter was adjourned to June 19 at Downing Centre to find a suitable hearing date.