RACE ROW: Footballer Anti-Semite Awarded Prize

Simon Christian, the Ocean Grove footballer convicted for his role in a violent anti-semitic attack with his team-mates on Menachem Vorchheimer, has been awarded the "Best and Fairest" award by the Bellarine Football League.

The brother of the victim, who was set upon by the drunk Deakin University Economics student and his colleagues and subjected to racist taunts with Christian saying "Go Nazis", David Vorchheimer told the nation's most popular newspaper, the HeraldSun:

Mr Vorchheimer's brother, David, said yesterday the best and fairest award was an insult and the league had shown poor judgment.

"You've got to question the values and what you are trying to espouse and encourage," he said.

Simon Christian wants to move on from his mistake, made when very young. Unlike his colleagues, he was not involved in acts of violence, just words of hate. But surely, if he's continuing on, accepting prizes for being the "fairest" player when he's brought such disgrace on himself, his club and the football league, he hasn't learned much at all.

He should hand back his award, which while given as a result of his conduct on the field is certainly a reflection on the Bellarine Football League. The convicted criminal has been punished once for crime and at some point there should be forgiveness. But how can Mr Vorchheimer forgive when the perpertrator shows no contrition, just a desire to forget.

Game on.