Surprise surprise: ScoMo crash-tackling a child has gone viral
Prime Minister Scott Morrison accidentally shoulder-charged a small child while playing soccer in Tasmania - and the internet has had plenty to say about it.
Mr Morrison was playing a training game with the kids while campaigning in the seat of Braddon when he made a run towards the ball, not seeing the small child in his path, before colliding with them and becoming entangled on the ground.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t been taken to hospital,” he joked.
Luca Fauvette, the child in question, was fine.
Both Mr Morrison and the soccer club made statements about the collision on Facebook, with the PM praising the boy for being “such a good sport”.
“You may have seen we had a bit of a collision at club training tonight at the Devonport Strikers Football Club in Tasmania,” Mr Morrison wrote. “I spoke to Luca and his mum Ali tonight to check in on him and he was in good form.
“Great to be able to have a good chat to him about his love of football and to hear he’s had three hat-tricks in his budding career already.”
"Our club values are determination, effort and respect," the Strikers said on Facebook.
"We think Luca showed plenty of determination and effort to stop the PM scoring at all costs!
"The latest star of the election is ok and looking forward to being the star of the show at school tomorrow!"
After footage of the incident emerged on social media, it quickly went viral and prompted jokes from all corners.
“In ScoMo’s defence, the kid is a United fan. Play on,” tweeted Tim Barrow.
“I trip over small children, dogs, hoses and my own feet on the odd occasion. Happy to make my clumsiness a headline if required,” Catherine Wilcox added.
Even 14-year-old journalist Leonardo Puglisi - who made headlines for interviewing Mr Morrison - got in on the fun, joking that one of their “reporters” was injured in “retaliation” for their tough questions.
BREAKING: @6NewsAU is prepared to launch legal action against the PM after one of our reporters was injured tonight
We understand it was retaliation from the PM for our tough questions during our interview with him https://t.co/hRb3JUPw3o
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) May 18, 2022
Others used it to make political points about the Liberal Party’s policies heading into this weekend’s federal election while others suggested that Mr Morrison wouldn’t fare well in the election as a result.
“Surely this bloke can’t survive after Saturday. He’s a national and international embarrassment,” Cody Murray wrote on Facebook.
“Just got so sad thinking about how that kid that ScoMo hit will never grow up and use their super to pay for 6% of a house deposit,” journalist Cameron Wilson tweeted.
To see footage of the incident, head here.
Image: Getty Images