The man inside the costume for South Sydney’s mascot has apologised for pushing a nine-year-old Sharks fan on the weekend.
At the Rabbitohs’ loss to Cronulla on Saturday, a young fan was shoved by the mascot, named Reggie Rabbit, as he was walking off the field.
Charlie Gallico, who has been inside the costume for over two decades, said on Monday that the fan called him over, then grabbed at him, before the push.
Gallico, 81, told Channel 10 he did not think he did anything wrong, but on Tuesday issued a public apology after reviewing the footage of him pushing Benji Agius.
“My actions were wrong. I should never have pushed Benji, or any child for that matter, the way I did on Saturday,” Gallico said in a Souths statement on Tuesday.
“I love children and do a lot of work for charity, in the community and in junior football. I realise Reggie Rabbit is a children’s character and my actions were not right.
“After going through the video I now realise I was in the wrong. I realise Benji did nothing wrong and didn’t deserve to be pushed, and I take full responsibility for what I did.
“I hope they can forgive me and accept my apology, and I hope he continues to love rugby league and keeps enjoying going to the football on the weekends.
“I can’t apologise enough to Benji and his family for what happened.”
The club said it had spoken to Benji’s parents, the Sharks, event security and the NRL integrity unit about the incident.
Gallico was defended by prime minister and former Rabbitohs board member Anthony Albanese on Monday, although it was unclear if he had seen the video.
“Charlie is a very gentle person … he has been doing it for a long time and he would never try to hurt anyone,” he said.
“I’m sure if there has been inappropriate behaviour, he would be the first to apologise.”
Gallico said his actions had hurt the club and pledged “nothing like this will ever happen again”.
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