Footballer who broke man's skull with rock handed community service instead of jail
Ilias Chair - who plays for the Moroccan national team and QPR - has seen his prison sentence reduced to 1,500 hours of community service after breaking a man's skull with a rock
Ilias Chair's prison sentence has been reduced to community service and a fine - after he was convicted of breaking a man’s skull with a rock.
The QPR star, 26, had been sentenced to a year behind bars, with a further 12 months suspended, by an Antwerp court in February for what was described as an "almost fatal attack".
The incident happened after a kayaking trip in northern France when an altercation broke out with the man, a lorry driver, called Niels T. Chair claimed his actions were because he felt he needed to defend members of his family.
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Antwerp's public prosecutor told a hearing: "Ilias Chair lashed out at Niels T with a stone and knocked him unconscious. The consequences were dramatic. He suffered a severe skull fracture, two centimetres long, and was taken to hospital at Reims in critical condition.
"Afterwards he had to recover for a long time in a Belgian hospital, and could not do his job as a lorry driver for a long time. The blow was almost fatal for him, and he still feels the after-effects."
After he was sentenced back in February, Chair was quick to challenge the decision. And now he's had the prison term cut to 1,500 hours of community service and a fine of €1,600 (£1,343).
Chair continued to play for QPR throughout the process - and he made 44 appearances for the Championship side last season, but the Loftus Road outfit have now announced they will open their own disciplinary procedures with Chair following the news of his reduced conviction.
A statement read: "The club takes note of the decision by the Belgian judiciary concerning our player, Ilias Chair. Queens Park Rangers Football Club expects its staff and players to conduct themselves in an exemplary fashion at all times.
"The club will now carry out its own disciplinary procedures, which will include reminding the player of his responsibilities at all times."
Chair had been allowed to continue his day-to-day life because, under Belgian law, those convicted of crimes are allowed to remain living normally until the legal process has drawn to a close entirely. Chair was born in Belgium but is of Moroccan descent and opted to represent them on the international stage.