See the disgraceful moment 'heartbroken' 12-year-old footy player is hit in the face by a coach from rival team during a match - as his attacker has a big win in court
The grandfather of a 12-year-old boy, who was attacked by a 42-year-old football manager during an U13s match, has been left 'sick to his stomach' after the coach had a jail sentence overturned on appeal.
In footage published online by The Advertiser, Michael James White was seen running onto a football field during a SANFL Juniors match between North Haven and Fitzroy on August 6, 2023, before he appeared to strike the young player.
White, who had coached North Haven U13s, had been handed a three-month jail sentence in February.
But after lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court, he has now had the sanction overturned and replaced with a suspended sentence.
Justice Doyle believed White had a good likelihood for rehabilitation and subsequently suspended the jail term if he agreed to sign a $500, 18-month good behaviour bond.
But the decision has been branded a 'slap on the wrist' by the 12-year-old's grandfather.
'I was sick to the stomach, I still am,' the victim's grandfather said, upon learning that the man had dodged jail time.
'I walked away from there (the sentence) thinking we've got justice for him and absolutely cannot believe it.
'We're just sickened with how a grown adult can do what he did … he's got a slap on the wrist as far as we're concerned.'
The grandfather was furious by the act from the coach, telling the outlet that he had to be 'held back' by other spectators on the touchline.
'I was very agitated, wild, upset, angry, all the emotions just flooded out,' he said.
'Luckily I did get held back but I did verbally get very aggressive.'
In the events prior to the attack, White's son had been tackled by the victim during the match but had suffered an injury, the court heard. Play was then paused while the New Haven player received treatment on the pitch. Players from both teams stood around catching their breath while waiting to recommence the match.
A magistrate told the court in February that the victim: 'heard [a shout of] "watch out" and saw you [White] running towards him, elbowing him to the left-hand side of his jaw, further causing him to fall to the ground.'
'(The victim) felt immediate pain in his jaw.'
On appeal, Justice Doyle said that 'contact was plainly not inadvertent' but he added that it was not clear from the footage whether White raised his elbow to the boy's face.
It was reasoned by the court that the collision was spontaneous, with the man 'likely in an emotional state' following the injury to his son.
'As the magistrate observed, it is utterly unacceptable that a fully grown man, particularly one entrusted with a team manager role who should understand the importance of modelling appropriate behaviour for young footballers, should assault a defenceless 12-year-old.'
'It had the potential to have caused significant injury (and) those who saw the incident are likely to have been shocked and potentially affected by it.'
The boy's grandfather told The Advertiser that his injuries were not the worst, however, it was the mental trauma of the attack that had been the most damaging for the young footy player.
In 2024, Fitzroy would be drawn against New Haven for the opening game of the season, with his Grandson returning to the pitch to play in that match.
'(My grandson) played a woeful game that day, he was just looking over his shoulder thinking is this guy going to run on,' the grandfather said.
'He was petrified.'
White has been handed a lifetime ban from being involved in any club representative capacity by the SANFL, who also slapped him with a $500 and a 12-month suspension from the date the incident took place, from attending any Australian rules football game.
SANFL executive general manager of football Matt Duldig said: 'SANFL has zero tolerance for anyone who is in breach of our Code of Conduct at junior matches and it is simply unacceptable to see team officials, who should be role models for young players, behave in this manner.'
However, the boy's grandfather has criticised the league following the incident.
He claims that they have not made contact with the family over the matter.
'It's an absolute let-down, they hold themselves up fairly high and consider themselves a body that there's to support the children but we've heard nothing,' he said.
But Duldig said: 'As a League, our priority is to protect the wellbeing of young players and umpires, ensuring that junior footy is an enjoyable and quality environment in which the game can be played,' Duldig said.
'SANFL has worked closely with Fitzroy Football Club and North Haven Football Club, both of which were highly cooperative throughout the process.'
Thankfully, the shocking incident has not deterred the young man from playing footy, with the 12-year-old having understood to have joined up with a new team this season.
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