Former AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour has been ordered to pay a $5000 fine to Disabilities Sports Australia, as well as two years community corrections after facing the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Thursday following his punch in during a local football brawl back in July.
BREAKING: Former AFL Diversity Manager Ali Fahour avoids jail, sentenced to community order for delivering “thumping blow” on opponent in suburban football scuffle @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/r9tvdasPeS
— Jayde Vincent (@JaydeVincent) February 15, 2018
The 34-year-old has pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury following an incident last year.
Fahour, who was playing for West Preston-Lakeside at the time, ran in from the side during a melee and punched Whittlesea's Dale Saddington, knocking him our and causing injury.
Following the incident, Fahour resigned as the AFL's diversity manager.
The magistrate, Carolyn Burnside, heard a number of positive character references throughout the day, and understood the incident was out of character.
“It just sits so uncomfortably with the rest of his character,” Burnside said.
“There are very few people in our community who extend themselves to marginalised groups; to the indigenous community, the Muslim community.”
Fahour was suspended for 14 weeks for the punch, which was enough to hand him a life ban from playing local football.
