From the Herald Sun:

Swans fly to defence
Matt Cunningham
November 11, 2006

THE Sydney Swans have rallied behind a Jewish man and his children who were racially abused by country footballers.
The Swans’ Melbourne-based general manager and former champion Tony Morwood wrote to Menachem Vorchheimer, a Swans supporter, after reading of his plight.

“It horrifies me that in today’s society you and your children (especially your children) have to be put through such a stressful situation,” Mr Morwood wrote.

“I would like to emphasise that not all people that are associated with football clubs act in this way, and I am sure you know this, and it is the minority that give us a bad name.”

The Swans donated new jumpers to Yehuda Levi Chaim, 6, and Sima Orli, 3, who were with their father in Caulfield on October 14 when a busload of footballers called out “F— off, Jews” and “Go the Nazis”.

The footballers, from the Ocean Grove Football Club, also stole Mr Vorchheimer’s two traditional hats, and one punched him in the eye when he tried to retrieve them.

Police are investigating. No charges have been laid.

Mr Vorchheimer said his children had been traumatised, but were cheered by their new Swans gear.

“My kids were very excited, and slept in the tops and have taken them to school with them today,” he said yesterday.

“I believe this letter and gesture was a fantastic way for the kids to see that what happened is isolated to a bunch of hoons, and by no means is representative of the sporting culture in this country.”

Mr Vorchheimer is still angry the man who hit him has not owned up and that he and his family are yet to receive a personal apology from any of the players.

“The indignity is greater today than it was at the time of the attack, in that despite all the attention the perpetrators have failed to come clean,” he said.

“This inaction leaves me with a lot of questions, including whether the perpetrators believe they were somehow justified in their attack on my two young children and me, and given the opportunity would engage in such a violent attack again.

“Hopefully, with time, those at the Ocean Grove Football Club will come to their senses and make the distinction between right and wrong.”