Charles Kalaoun sentenced for punching soccer opponent

An amateur soccer player claimed he “panicked” due to his anxiety when he chased down and punched an opponent in the head during a south Sydney football match.

Sylvania Water's Charles Kalaoun pleaded guilty to assaulting a soccer player he was versing following a tackle during a match at Connells Point in June 2022. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

An amateur player who chased and punched an opponent multiple times in the head during a heated soccer game has spent his birthday in court.

Charles Kalaoun, 37, applied to have his charge of common assault dismissed under the mental health act before he was sentenced at Sutherland Local Court on Monday.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Kalaoun, who lives in Sylvania Waters and plays for Dolls Point Football Club, and the victim, who plays for Connells Point Rover Football Club, did not know each other apart from crossing paths in a community soccer competition.

About an hour into the match on June 18 last year, at Poulton Park, Connells Point, the victim made a legal tackle towards Kalaoun when they were contesting for the soccer ball.

They fell on the floor before Kalaoun got on top of his opponent, grabbed his shirt, put his legs around the man’s head and started striking him with closed fists in the face.

The other player tried to protect himself and could only break free when his teammate pushed Kalaoun off him.

The man then ran away to the other side of the field and tried to calm himself down after feeling “extremely shaken from the punches” when Kalaoun attacked him again.

Kalaoun grabbed the man’s shirt and repeatedly punched him in the head. The man only got away when the referee intervened and separated the two.

The victim sustained a bruise to his left eyebrow and told police he was “terrified”.

Kalaoun fronted Sutherland Local Court on Monday.

In court, Kalaoun applied under the Mental Health Act, asking for his case to be diverted under mental health grounds.

The court heard Kalaoun had generalised anxiety and had sought treatment for excessive worry in 2004 when he was given medication to treat depression.

In December 2022, six months after the assault, Kalaoun commenced psychological treatment and completed 10 sessions.

The court heard he managed a business and had no criminal history.

Kalaoun claimed during the match, the victim had bruised his shins and repeatedly stepped on his feet.

He told a psychologist he was feeling “confined and fearful” when he started punching the man and panicked as he tried to break free.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said he did not accept the suggestion Kalaoun was ”trying to break free” because he chased after the victim and struck him several times.

“This is a serious matter in an organised sporting context in a public place,” he said.

“I can’t accept he was acting in any form of self-defence or trying to escape the situation.

“This was a serious attack on someone. I find no causal link with the mental health condition.”

The court heard during the incident, the referee struck Kalaoun in the face, and they both fronted a football judiciary and were suspended for six matches.

The mental health application was refused. Kalaoun pleaded guilty and was placed on a conditional release order where he must be of good behaviour for two years but was not convicted.

Kalaoun has appealed the decision.