A man who allegedly assaulted a referee at a suburban soccer game has been released on bail with strict conditions after a new video surfaced that “changes the narrative”.
Adam Abdallah, 25, received widespread condemnation after a video purportedly showing him violently assaulting match official Khodr Yaghi in Sydney’s south-west went viral in late April.
Abdallah had been in custody since May 1. On Wednesday, he was granted bail in the NSW Supreme Court.
The prosecution said it did not oppose his release because a new video of the incident had come to light since Abdallah was initially refused bail.
“It somewhat changes the narrative from the shortened clip the media had,” a lawyer representing the Director of Public Prosecutions said.
The extended video, published by the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, appears to show Mr Yaghi throwing the first punch at an onrushing Abdallah before hitting the ground and being set upon by the younger man.
The original video circulated online panned to the affray only after Mr Yaghi was already on the deck.
The bail conditions require Abdallah to remain in his house at all times, unless accompanied by his mother or his wife, who is six months’ pregnant.
Justice Mark Ierace said the conditions effectively confined the amateur boxer to “house arrest”.
As Abdallah had no prior criminal convictions, other than one traffic matter, Justice Ierace said the “alleged behaviour would appear to be quite out of character”.
Mr Yaghi, 45, had reconstructive surgery in a Sydney hospital after the incident left his jaw broken in three places and knocked out three teeth.
Abdallah was a suspended player for Greenacre Eagles, which withdrew from the rest of the men’s premier league winter season and promised to help the local association impose appropriate sanctions.
NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper, a past president of Sydney Olympic Football Club, said he had sought assurances from governing body Football NSW that the strongest possible action would be taken over the alleged attack on Mr Yaghi.
“This is one of the worst attacks I’ve ever seen at any sporting event at any level,” he said days after the incident.
“This was a disgusting and cowardly attack. It goes without saying that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable.”
Abdallah next faces court on June 28.
– AAP
