Rock legend Rod Stewart has been kicking autographed soccer balls into the crowds at his concerts for more than 20 years, and though he has probably smacked a couple fans in the face before, he is finally being sued for it.
According to The Telegraph, Mostafa Kashe, of California, is suing Stewart for $10,000 after he was hit in the face by a soccer ball at a 2012 concert in Las Vegas, suffering a "nasal cavity fracture."
"The actions of defendant Rod Stewart were negligent, careless, and/or reckless," Kashe's complaint reads, "and the soccer balls were kicked with sufficient force so as to potentially injure patrons of the concert."
The incident occurred in October 2012 during Stewart's residency at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, which Kashe is also suing, claiming the hotel and casino knew or "should have been aware of Stewart kicking soccer balls without warning into the crowd as part of his show."
Kashe also cites Stewart's long history as a soccer player as proof that the singer should have known to be more cautious:
"Stewart has significant experience in the sport of soccer and experience in kicking soccer balls, having previously tried out for a professional soccer team in the U.K. and regularly playing in amateur soccer leagues since his youth. Stewart either knew or should have known that his actions could cause injury to unsuspecting patrons of his concerts."
When asked by TMZ about the lawsuit, Stewart did not deny that he broke Kashe's nose, but insisted that soccer is "a contact sport."
