The "disgusting and cowardly" bashing of a veteran referee in suburban Sydney is among the worst attacks NSW sports minister has ever seen on a sporting field.
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Khodr Yaghi, 45, is recovering in Liverpool Hospital after three teeth were knocked out and his jaw was broken in three places when attacked by a spectator in Padstow on Friday.
Despite the incident, he plans to return to refereeing once he recovers, he told AAP.
Footage of the incident showed that after falling to the ground, the referee was punched at least three times and appeared to be kicked.
After the footage went viral on social media, a 25-year-old man presented himself to Bankstown police on Sunday afternoon and was arrested.
Police late on Sunday night charged the man with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and affray.
NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper, a past president of Sydney Olympic Football Club, was among those to personally offer his support and assistance to Mr Yaghi.
"This is one of the worst attacks I've ever seen at any sporting event at any level," Mr Kamper told AAP in a statement.
"This was a disgusting and cowardly attack. It goes without saying that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable."
He said community sport had to be somewhere everyone could feel safe and there was zero tolerance for "this kind of cowardly thuggery".
Governing body Football NSW on Sunday condemned the attack and said it would support the local competition, Bankstown District Amateur Football Association, with its investigation.
"Football NSW have assured me they will be taking the strongest possible action in response to this cowardly attack," Mr Kamper said.
Mr Yaghi has officiated in Sydney for decades, including in the NSW National Premier League on Australian football's third tier.
He had been a sideline official in Friday's match between Greenacre Eagles and Padstow Hornets and was helped by players from both teams.
Greenacre, whose suspended player was the alleged attacker, withdrew from the rest of the men's premier league winter season and promised to help the association impose appropriate sanctions.
"This serves as a reminder to all that violence will not be tolerated at our club," the club committee said.
Abuse has been cited as a core reason several football codes have difficulty in recruiting and retaining officials.
In a 2022 awareness campaign by Western Australia's governing body for AFL, a young female umpire detailed threats she had received including "Meet me at the bike racks after the game".
At the same time, Rugby Victoria launched its own anti-abuse campaign after referee numbers fell to a record low.
Australian Associated Press
