JEDDAH, 8 April 2009 — A television reporter beaten up by security personnel at the King Fahd International Stadium moments after the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup final match between Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal on Wednesday is to file a case in court.

ART Sport Channel has hired the services of lawyer Khaled Abu Rashid to handle the case of its reporter, Badr Rafae, who has been hospitalized as a result of the physical assault.

Abu Rashid said the lawsuit would be filed in two weeks’ time.

The incident prompted Rafae’s colleagues at ART to condemn this violence against a media person and demand public apology from and punishment of the individuals responsible for the mindless attack.

Saudi Football Executive Producer at ART Sport Channel Waleed Al-Farraj explained to Arab News that the rules and regulations give reporters access to interview the players and officials at certain media mixed zones only.

Reporters, however, are not allowed in all matches to conduct interviews at the playing field although violations of this rule could not be avoided when the excitement builds up, and mayhem breaks out.

What transpired on Wednesday was a disagreement that degenerated into a physical fight between the security men and Rafae and his crew. Rafae would not budge after being brashly told to terminate the live interview as he was in violation of the rules. Instead, Rafae asked the security detail to step aside until the interview ends as it would take only a few moments, Al-Farraj said.

The security got angry and turned to Rafae, the first reporter he saw, and yanked the media accreditation card from his neck in full view of Nasr professional import Tunisian Essam Al-Mirdasi, who was being interviewed at the time and confirmed the incident.

Incensed, Rafae stepped back and warned the security that if he got closer he would regret it.

The man took it personal against Rafae, gathered six of his colleagues and beat up Rafae black and blue.

“It was impossible for me to curse or swear because it’s not my way of handling things, and I was going live in seconds so they could not accuse me of that!” said Rafae, a former footballer who landed a job in media after an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee cut short his playing career. He received a cut in his ligament and had to undergo a surgery as a result of the beating.

The General Presidency of Youth Welfare assured ART this incident would not happen again, adding it woud not condone violence against the media.