The Australian prime minister flattened a small boy in an under-eights training game as he made unwanted headlines in the country’s election race.
Scott Morrison was hovering in a sweeper position as he took part in a kids’ game in Tasmania but as he shuffled to his left, he lost his balance and landed on the small child.
After being floored, little Luca Fauvette, who plays under-eights at Devonport Strikers FC, initially appeared stunned but then saw the funny side.
The Australian PM was in Tasmania on the election trail and took part in the training game with budding footballers for what had appeared to be an easy photo opportunity.
But even though the game didn’t go to plan, there were smiles all round afterwards.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t been taken to hospital,” laughed Mr Morrison.
He also chatted with the parents and kids while giving a speech where he pledged to invest in playing facilities.
“I look forward to coming back on another occasion,” he told parents and children, reported news.com.au.
“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.”
The football clash has now gone viral on social media with the prime minister also writing on Facebook : “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 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.”
The incident was similar to when Boris Johnson apologised to a schoolboy after shoulder barging him during a 'friendly' game of rugby while on a business trip to Japan.
Back when he was London mayor, in 2015, he knocked Toki Sekiguchi - aged just 10 - to the ground as he ran with the ball.
Dressed in suit trousers and a shirt, Mr Johnson was filmed taking a pass and then charging down the wing.
Head down, he races towards the boy and then stumbles, crashing into him and knocking him to the floor.
The now prime minister was left spread-eagled on the floor, too, but still clutching the ball.
And that wasn't the first time Mr Johnson has had a sporting mishap with a schoolboy as in 2014 he tripped over a nine-year-old boy during a football match in London.
The then mayor could be seen reaching for the football but managed to trip the child over instead.
