Australia reacts to ScoMo’s crash tackle: ‘This is dangerous’

Scott Morrison accidentally flattening a junior soccer player has become the most controversial moment of the election campaign.

Scott Morrison accidentally provided the most memorable moment of the election campaign by sensationally wiping out a small child while playing soccer in Tasmania.

The Prime Minister was playing a training game with kids at the home of the Devonport Strikers when he made a run towards the goal that went horribly wrong.

He clattered a small child and then became entangled on the ground.

The Prime Minister joked, “I’m surprised he hasn’t been taken to hospital.”

Scott Morrison accidentally brought down a junior soccer player. Picture: Getty

Luca Fauvette, who plays under-eights, was fine.

The PM had just landed in Tasmania to drop into a training night at the soccer club.

Mr Morrison met players and parents and gave a speech about the government’s $3.5 million pledge to redevelop the playing pitch and upgrade facilities.

“I look forward to coming back on another occasion,” he told parents and children.

“I think that when that grandstand comes down, I hear it might need a bit of a bulldozer to knock it down, so I might be able to help with that.”

Both Scott Morrison and the soccer club posted statements on Facebook about collision.

“A shout out to young Luca for being such a good sport,” the PM wrote.

“You may have seen we had a bit of a collision at club training tonight at the Devonport Strikers Football Club in Tasmania. 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.”

A shout out to young Luca for being such a good sport. You may have seen we had a bit of a collision at club training...

Posted by Scott Morrison (ScoMo) on Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he was glad “that little boy is OK”. “Quite clearly it wasn’t on purpose,” Mr Albanese said.

Vision of the moment went viral in Australia on Wednesday night and brought out the best and worst of social media.

Some of the jokes weren’t bad.

“In ScoMo’s defence the kid is a United fan. Play on,” tweeted Tim Barrow.

“I don’t kick a ball mate ‘that’s not my job’,” wrote Joel Wood.

“I trip over small children, dogs, hoses and my own feet on the odd occasion. Happy to make my clumsiness a headline if required,” added Catherine Wilcox.

Scott Morrison is now a Shooting Stars meme. I will never apologise for these pic.twitter.com/f0bLtXPCSb

— Ethan (@ethanmeldrum_) May 18, 2022

Absolutely schooled some kids at soccer training this afternoon. Still got it.

— Scott Morrison PM of Australia (parody) (@ScottyFromMktg) May 18, 2022

Scott Morrison says he is blessed to not have a kid who was just crippled on the soccer field

— The Chaser Interns (@ChaserInterns) May 18, 2022

I put it to you that tackling a small child to the ground is something of a ‘gaffe’

— Ben Eltham (@beneltham) May 18, 2022

Scomo asks Jenny if bowling over a kid was bad

— The Chaser (@chaser) May 18, 2022

just get 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 😩

— cameron wilson (@cameronwilson) May 18, 2022

But others wanted to turn what was clearly an accident into a political pointscoring opportunity.

“WTAF? As a primary school teacher, I’d probably be suspended if I did that! He’s a big heavy man. That is dangerous. He’s from another planet,” Kate Stanner tweeted.

“Proving his ineptitude once again … … it’s sad that I’ve repeated this comment SO MANY TIMES!!” Bill Falknau wrote on Facebook.

“Surely this bloke can’t survive after Saturday. He’s a national and international embarrassment,” Cody Murray added.

Which meant others felt the need to leap to the Prime Minister’s defence.

The pair were all smiles after the fall. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Looked like his only thought was for the child’s safety, good how he held the child and rolled so he landed on the ground and not the child,” Sue Tidey said.

“ScoMo played a sport with some kids. They tripped, he held the kid up and took the fall himself protecting the boy. Totally nothing and innocent. Actually endearing and nice he took the time to play. Move on!” added Louise Ward.