
Known in the public eye for an unsavory incident that gained virality, Adam Abdallah, an amateur boxer, faced the NSW Supreme Court attempting to negotiate his bail conditions. The 25-year-old requested the rights to attend sporting games and to exit his confines of home detention.
Earlier, Abdallah had caught public attention from a video that showed him allegedly attacking soccer referee Khodr Yaghi post a match at Padstow Oval in southwestern Sydney. Authorities claim Abdallah launched a sudden attack on the official post the match between the Greenacre Eagles and the Padstow Hornets on April 28. Multiple facial punches and a head-kick from the amateur boxer left Yaghi missing four teeth and nursing a broken jawline.
The unsightly incident resulted in Abdallah receiving charges of intentionally wounding with aims to cause severe bodily harm, and affray due to his participation in the brawl. Pleas against these charges remain unentered.
In May, an extended cut of the circulated video emerged, showing Abdallah as the victim of the initial attack. This led to a subsequent decision of granting Abdallah bail. Justice Sarah McNaughton, overlooking the case noted, “On one view, he didn’t start the brawl.”
Talal Krayem, Abdallah’s lawyer, explained to the court that his client was responding to physical harm inflicted by the referee with a sideline flagpole. Conceding Abdallah’s actions as “somewhat not good,” Krayem requested the court to lighten the bail conditions, arguing towards the betterment of his client’s family.
Under bail, the boxer was restrained from attending sporting events and placed under a regimen of daily police reports alongside virtual house arrest. Krayem contended these conditions negatively impacted Abdallah’s mental health. He further argued that seeing his client medicated for anxiety, depression, and ADHD should affirm he is addressing his issues, easing the court’s concerns.
Krayem proposed a revocation of the house arrest condition, offering Abdallah’s employment as a foreman with a Sydney plumbing company as a beneficial alternative for his family. However, Justice McNaughton voiced concerns over potential issues of anger management and coping with stressful situations in the community.
Despite emphasizing the brawl as an isolated incident, Krayem admitted his client’s previous suspension due to an on-field fight while playing with the Eagles. The lawyer put forth that Abdallah’s attendance at professional soccer games would pose limited risk due to significant security presence.
In contrast, Crown prosecutor Isha Fay opposed the bail variation, highlighting concerns on public safety and spectators at sporting events. “Mr Abdallah clearly becomes very upset and angry in sporting situations where he disagrees with the referee’s decision. We consider that a real risk,” she expressed.
Concurrences arose with Justice McNaughton, as she too viewed the risk as high and refused the proposed bail conditions. “The atmosphere in sporting games can provoke even people of calm demeanor to become very emotionally charged. Allowing his attendance at any sporting event is inappropriate whilst he’s on conditional bail,” she explained.
Red in disappointment, Abdallah sighed dramatically and crossed his arms against his chest. Despite the tightened sporting prohibitions, Justice McNaughton agreed to revise Abdallah’s home detention stipulations. She granted flexible work hours, allowed social interactions, and access to local gyms. “Varying the bail to allow the applicant to work supports his mental health and family. It also provides for an income source,” she added.
Abdallah’s continued adherence to court protocols is ensured with a security deposit of $25,000.