It's sad to see a club legend fall into the shit heap. I hope its not true, but if it is he deserves all the shit that's coming his way.
I remember attending the first Bulldogs' home game at the Showground in 2001 (vs Newcastle) and sitting directly in front of his (first) wife and Hazem sitting and talking next to her for a short-time about 30mins before kickoff, and my dad and I had a short talk with them. Sitting near the Bulldogs fan section that day (due to ticket allocation stuff-up by ground management), Hazem and her were probably the only people in that part of the ground that day who were nice towards us compared to the constant abuse and threats us and the other Knights supporters in our row were subjected to during the game.
Given El Masri was always portrayed in the media as one of League's good guys during his playing career (I admit he was one of my favourite non-Knights players), this incident will significantly dent that reputation if he is convicted of the charges laid against him.
In all seriousness, what is it with all these domestic violence charges over the past 12 months or so in league? You'd think with all the domestic violence awareness (which, IMO has taken far too long to eventuate in the media as when I first started fundraising for DV victims back in 2006, nothing was mentioned about it in the media) players would be put on guard. Within a very short period of time, El Masri, Wesser, Lodge, Kenny-Dowall (trial still yet to go to court), several players from Souffs.....
The NRL definitely needs to take a tougher stance against anyone associated with the game who either pleads guilty or is found guilty in court for these charges. Players such as Auva'a should've never been allowed back in the NRL.
