Footy great filmed 'elbowing skateboarder' in fiery confrontation
Footy great Sam Newman has been caught on camera clashing with a young skateboard rider during a fiery confrontation.
The hall of fame footballer repeatedly asked the skaters to leave the South Wharf steps in Melbourne on Saturday where skating is banned.
When the group continued on skating, Newman took matters into his own hands.
However the 73-year-old is refusing to apologise, claiming the target of his aggression got what he deserved.
Footage shows Newman remonstrating with the group in a heated exchange.
“Dude are you police? Are you authorised take the law into your own hands ? Tell me that,” one man can be heard asking.
As the group continues to skate, Newman grabs the skateboard off one of the youths.
As they try and reclaim it, Newman wrestles it from their grip.
“Dude yo, that’s not necessary dude,” one said.
Walking away with the skateboard, Newman shouts: “Now f*** off.”
The man who recorded the confrontation claims that Newman’s elbow made contact with the head of his friend.
“His aggression I suppose ramped up a little bit when we didn’t sort of listen to what he saying,” one of the skateboarders told 7News.
The group deny that they had sought to create a clash and refute claims they wanted to provoke Newman due to his high public profile.
“He started getting pretty aggressive so sort of pretty intimidating at the time, the skateboarder said.
“Now I know who he is but at the time we had no idea. Me and my friend don’t follow football at all.”
Newman has claimed he has phone vision of the events prior to the altercation, telling 7News his initial approach to the skaters was calm in explaining why he wanted them to move on.
He said he acted out of concerns for the safety of the public and to prevent damage to the facilities.
In 2007 Newman again confronted skaters at Docklands over areas where skating is prohibited.
At least one of the skaters involved in the clash on Saturday says he will now stay away from the area.
