I know I’m not racist

Hamish Heard
An Ocean Grove footballer convicted of a verbal attack on a Jewish Melbourne man issued a statement denying he was racist, yesterday.
Twentyoneyearold Simon Christian’s statement to the Independent said he had tried several times to apologise to the victim but legal advisors had stopped him.
A Melbourne Magistrate this week convcited Christian and fined him $1000 for using insulting words in public after he reportedly admitted yelling “go Nazis” at Menachem Vorchheimer as the victim walked with his young son and daughter.
Christian was among Ocean Grove Football Club members returning from a Caulfield race meeting in a minibus at the time of the incident in October.
One of Christian’s teammates allegedly stole Mr Vorchheimer’s traditional Jewish hat before another player allegedly punched the victim in the face, leaving him bloody and bruised.
Magistrate Barbara Cotterell reportedly described Christian’s involvement in the incident as “extremely racist”.
But in his statement to the Independent he denied racism was behind the attack.
“In my heart I know I am not racist and I am disappointed how it has all ended up,” he said.
“I understand that what I said was insulting (but) I did not mean to insult anyone.
“In October I wrote a sincere apology to Mr Vorcheimer and was going to Melbourne to meet with him personally but I was advised at the last minute not to go and to not send the apology.”
Mr Vorchheimer said an apology would have helped him and his children gain closure before the court hearing.
“The indignity of that day still resonates with me and my family and has not healed with time,” Mr Vorchheimer said.
“I’d love it if he (Christian) could meet my two young children and look in their eyes and see we are all the same, that they like footy and cricket just like he does and that we are all Australian.”
Two Ocean Grove players still face court over the incident.