Soccer referee Khodr Yaghi pleads not guilty to assault

The southwest Sydney football referee whose jaw was broken in an alleged assault by a suspended player will fight allegations he assaulted a woman at a pub.

A southwest Sydney football referee who was seriously injured in an alleged on-field assault will deny he had earlier assaulted a woman while working as a security guard at a northern Sydney pub.

Khodr Yaghi, 45, had his jaw broken when suspended player Adam Abdallah, 25, charged onto the field after a match between the Greenacre Eagles and Padstow Hornets on April 28.

On the same day his alleged attacker was granted bail, Yaghi’s own criminal matter was being mentioned at Hornsby Local Court after he was charged with assaulting a woman while he was working as a security guard at Hornsby’s Railway Hotel.

Khodr Yaghi leaves court on Monday. Picture: Nikki Short

Khodr Yaghi.

At the time, the court heard Yaghi was unable to attend in person as he had recently undergone surgery for his injuries.

Yaghi has pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and reckless grievous bodily harm in relation to the March 3 incident.

The Berala man appeared briefly at Downing Centre Local Court on June 19, where his solicitor Sarah Rashidi confirmed his pleas and a hearing was set for the same court on February 14 next year.

Outside court Yaghi – wearing a beanie, face mask and tracksuit – said nothing except “leave me alone” when media approached.

Police have charged Abdallah with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and affray in relation to the football match incident.

He was released on strict Supreme Court bail after a short period on remand.

Bail was granted after video of the affray was tendered to the court by a solicitor for Adam Abdallah who said it showed his client was not the instigator of the fight.