Disgraced former AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour has pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury after a one-punch attack on an opposition player during a local footy match.
Fahour appeared at Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where assault and intentionally causing injury charges were withdrawn from the same incident.
The former Aussie Rules official attacked Dale Saddington during a scuffle in a Northern League Football match in Melbourne in early July.
The high-ranking league employee was subsequently given a life ban from playing amateur football, while he also resigned from his position at the AFL.
Disgraced former AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour has pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury after punching an opposition player during a local footy match
Ali Fahour attacked Dale Saddington (pictured) during a scuffle in a Northern League Football match in Melbourne in early July
Fahour was playing in the Northern Football League when he rushed into a scuffle and punched (pictured) opponent Dale Saddington, knocking him out
Fahour was banned for 14 weeks by the NFL tribunal, taking his career total suspensions beyond the 16-week threshold which triggers de-registration from any league in Australia.
Saddington had been planning on retiring at the end of the season but made the decision to quit immediately because of injuries sustained as a result of the punch.
The father-of-two made a formal complaint to Victoria Police after the hit left him unconscious.
After the July hearing, which lasted more than two hours, Fahour announced he would step down as AFL diversity manager.
‘On the basis of the seriousness of the charge and the tribunal’s sanction, I’ll be standing down from my position at the AFL,’ he said.
‘In this time, I’ll seek professional help for my behaviour.’
After the July hearing, which lasted more than two hours, Fahour announced he would step down as AFL diversity manager. ‘On the basis of the seriousness of the charge and the tribunal’s sanction, I’ll be standing down from my position at the AFL,’ he said
Fahour was banned for life following a hearing at the Northern Football League tribunal in Melbourne
NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said the tribunal found Fahour guilty of striking and suspended him for 14 matches.
‘Fahour’s career suspensions tally now totals 21 matches, therefore this now activates the AFL de-registration policy,’ he said.
‘This means Fahour will be deregistered and banned from playing and or officiating.’
Fahour appeared at Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where assault and intentionally causing injury charges were withdrawn from the same incident
Fahour continued his speech to acknowledge his love for the sport he is now banned from, and his pride in the work he was able to achieve during his time as diversity manager.
‘I’ve played this game for 29 years, it has given me everything,’ he said.
‘I have loved working for the AFL and running programs that have reached out to communities far and wide.’
The footage of the incident caused uproar, with his victim, Dale Saddington, filing assault charges and calling for him to be sacked from his job over the incident
The footage of the incident caused uproar, with his victim, Dale Saddington, filing assault charges and calling for him to be sacked from his job over the incident.
‘It’s no different just because it’s on a footy field. You can’t just go whacking blokes from behind,’ he told the Herald Sun.
Fahour is the brother of former Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour, who stood down from his role earlier this year after controversy over his multi-million dollar salary.