Brawl brothers labelled 'poor role models' after fight at kids' football game
A kids' football coach has been slammed as a "poor role model" after being given a suspended jail term for his involvement in a brawl at a junior rugby league game in Sydney.
Bankstown Bulls under-12s coach Robert Mehrez was the alleged instigator of the April 16 brawl, which involved up to 20 people - including Mehrez's father and two brothers.
Robert Mehrez, right, and his brothers outside court. Source: 7News
Footage from the brawl. Source: 7News
Two elderly men, including the 75-year-old who tried to break up the fight, were knocked to the ground in the appalling football brawl.
"The whole incident was disgraceful," Magistrate Eve Wynhausen said.
"The community won't tolerate that type of behaviour."
Mr Mehrez was spared jail time after pleading guilty to affray and assault occasioning bodily harm. The 39-year-old was hit with a nine-month suspended sentence and 150 hours community service.
His brothers Gadder and Carem Mehrez were given 150 hours of community service and a 12-month good behaviour bond respectively.
Their 62-year-old father, Ahmed Mehrez, was also involved in the melee and is under a 12-month good behaviour bond.
Tensions between parents of the two teams were high at Clempton Park in Kingsgrove on April 16, because the Bulls had never lost to the Dragons, the court heard.
Footage from the brawl. Source: 7News
Coach Mehrez and Dragons assistant secretary Rebecca Vandine got into a heated argument when she complained about where he'd set up the Bulls' tent.
Anger reached boiling point during the second half when one of the Bulls players got injured.
Ms Vandine's husband later came over to defend his wife and the two men started fighting, which spiralled into a 20-man brawl.
"All I remember is my son, 10 people holding him down and punching him and I get in too," Ahmed Mehrez told police on the day.
About 100 people witnessed the fight, including young children and the elderly.
Ms Wynhausen noted the brothers had expressed remorse and shame for their actions.
The Mehrez brothers. Source: 7News
Outside the court, lawyer Garry Gillett said his clients were glad the magistrate acknowledged they weren't the only ones involved in the fight.
Robert Mehrez told reporters there was "a lot more to this situation".
"We were literally attacked," he said.
He no longer coaches the Bankstown Bulls.
