Josh Wilson yet to personally apologise to victim of punch during amateur Perth soccer game

Labor MP Josh Wilson is yet to personally apologise to the man he punched in the face during an amateur soccer game which saw the assistant minister banned from competing for five weeks. As his Federal party colleagues continued to back the member for Fremantle on Friday, it emerged he has yet to speak with the opponent he struck “with his fist” during a division one masters league game on May 31. The Assistant Climate Change Minister, who plays in the over 45s for Fremantle City Football Club, said this week he had a beer with his University of WA-Nedlands rivals in the club rooms after the game. Sources told The West Australian the victim was left with a sore jaw and did not take part in drinks with the politician. Mr Wilson said he asked the player’s teammates to apologise on his behalf. “I apologised to the UWA players who came back to Freo’s club rooms for a beer after the game and asked them to pass on my apology to their teammate,” he said. “My response was wrong and that’s why the red card and suspension are appropriate.” But a source with knowledge of the incident said: “He has not apologised at all.” Mr Wilson said this week he seriously regretted the incident, which saw him cop a red card and a five week ban from playing for Fremantle City Football Club. Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman backed Mr Wilson in this week, under the knowledge he had apologised to the player he punched. “Josh loves playing soccer . . . I’m not going to be a commentator on community sport, other than to say I think Josh did the right thing in apologising, and he’s been very open about that,” Mr Gorman said. Several Labor figures have told The West Australian the incident is “unfortunate” but is also likely to play in favour of the marginal seat holder. “Every weekend there would be dozens of blokes involved in ‘argy bargy’ on the sporting field and Josh is no different,” one Labor colleague told the West. Federal Sports Minister Annika Wells declined a number of requests to comment. Mr Wilson had spent the week downplaying the incident to reporters, stating a red card was a “standard suspension” which was common across Football West leagues. But according to the Football West senior suspensions database, he is one of seven Masters league players to be suspended over the past four years. Of those, five players received five week bans. Only a handful of higher sanctions have been given out so far this year; a one year ban and two six-week bans. A referee report obtained by The West also stated Mr Wilson struck his opponent “in the face with his fist using excessive force whilst not challenging for the ball”. WA shadow sport and recreation minister Peter Rundle said the community was “appalled” at the MP’s behaviour. “Violence has no place in Western Australian society - whether it’s on the footy field, on a night out, or behind closed doors at home,” he said. “No player should have to worry about copping a fist to the face while enjoying a weekend game of soccer, least of all from a Federal MP who should know better. “Equally disappointing is the way the boys club of senior Labor MPs including Premier Roger Cook and Patrick Gorman have rallied around their mate and downplayed the incident.” Speaking to reporters on Friday, State Education Minister Sabine Winton said Mr Wilson’s behaviour was “unacceptable” and he regretted his actions. “I think he would be pretty disappointed. We, as politicians, are held to a higher standard. It’s unacceptable behaviour, he’s taken his sanction, I’m sure he will reflect,” she said. Premier Roger Cook said on Thursday Mr Wilson’s actions were not acceptable, he did not think they said anything about his character. “He’s a public figure and a leader in the community, and there’s that extra level of standard that I think people expect from their behaviour,” he said. In response to questions on Friday a spokeswoman for Mr Wilson said: “Immediately after the match, at the Freo FC club rooms, Josh apologised to the UWA players who came back for a beer and asked them to pass on his apology to their teammate.”