Fremantle MP Josh Wilson finally says sorry to punch victim almost four weeks after the incident via email

Almost four weeks after punching his soccer opponent in the face, Labor MP Josh Wilson has finally apologised to his victim. After days of media scrutiny, in which it was revealed the Member for Fremantle, who was suspended for five games, had not reached out personally out to the UWA-Nedlands player to say sorry, despite leaving him with a sore jaw. Mr Wilson on Saturday sent the player an email, apologising but his victim says the apology is weeks overdue. “I wanted to apologise to you for my unacceptable conduct in the incident that occurred when our teams played on 31 May,” Mr Wilson’s email read. “Let me say clearly to you that I am sorry. I wish you well personally and for the rest of the UWA-Nedlands football season.” Mr Wilson, the assistant climate change Minister who plays in the over 45s for Fremantle City Football Club, said this week he had a beer with UWA-Nedlands rivals in the club rooms after the game and had asked them to pass on his apology to their teammate. But Mr Wilson claimed the apology had not been passed on. “I apologised to your teammates immediately after the game when they came back to the Freo FC Clubroom for a beer and I asked them to pass on my personal apology to you as the best means available for expressing my remorse at the earliest time,” Wilson wrote in his email to the victim. “I understand from media reporting that my apology may not have been passed on.” The UWA-Nedlands player responded, expressing disappointment that media coverage had seemingly driven the apology. “It (media coverage) could have all been avoided had you handled the incident better,” the UWA-Nedlands player told Mr Wilson. “It’s a shame you’re only reaching out after that media coverage. I did contact you post incident. I’m sure we’ll see each other when we play again, and move on. Always welcome to our club to say hi.” According to the Football West senior suspensions database, Mr Wilson is one of seven Masters league players to be suspended over the past four years. Of those, five players received five-week bans. Football West issued the suspension after reviewing the referee’s report. The referee said Mr Wilson had hit his opponent “in the face with his fist using excessive force whilst not challenging for the ball”. “I showed the reported player (Mr Wilson) a red card and sent him from the field of play for violent conduct,” the referee said. Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman backed Mr Wilson in this week, under the knowledge he had apologised to the player he punched. “Josh loves playing soccer . . . I’m not going to be a commentator on community sport, other than to say I think Josh did the right thing in apologising, and he’s been very open about that,” Mr Gorman said. Several Labor figures have told The West Australian the incident is “unfortunate” but is also likely to play in favour of the marginal seat holder.