Soccer referee who was allegedly bashed faces assault charge in Sydney

A soccer referee whose jaw was broken in a shocking on-field brawl has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a woman while working as a bouncer in a northern Sydney pub.

Khodr Yaghi, who appeared at Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday sporting a futsal tracksuit, faces charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and reckless grievous bodily harm over the incident at the suburb's Railway Hotel on March 3.

The 45-year-old reportedly missed his first court appearance last month as he was undergoing surgery on his jaw, which was left broken in three places while officiating a local football game in Sydney's south-west on April 28.

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His alleged assailant, Adam Abdallah, faces charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and affray.

The amateur boxer was granted bail on May 31 after a new video emerged, which the prosecution said "changed the narrative" of the incident.

It appeared to show Yaghi swinging first, before falling to the ground and being set upon by the 25-year-old Abdallah.

The veteran referee, who has officiated in Sydney for decades, was overwhelmed with support after the original video went viral.

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NSW Sports Minister Stephen Kamper, a past president of Sydney Olympic Football Club, presented Yaghi with a football signed by FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura.

"Volunteers and referees are the backbone of our grassroots sports," he wrote on Facebook in May.

"We need to make sure they are respected and safe."

Football NSW said in a statement it had no tolerance for any antisocial behaviour from any of its participants at any time.

Clubs across the state held a guard of honour for referees in the round following the incident in solidarity with Yaghi and to call out abuse towards match officials.

"The language and behaviour targeted towards referees would not be acceptable on the street, or in the workplace, or in the home – yet it still occurs on the football pitch," Canterbury Football chairman Nick Kambounias said.

"This needs to stop."

Yaghi remains on bail ahead of his next hearing, set for June 19 at Downing Centre Local Court.

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