This is the cringeworthy moment the new rugby league commissioner, Peter Beattie, confused a Barcelona FC supporter for a Newcastle Knights fan.
The former Queensland Premier suffered the embarrassing gaffe when he appeared on the Today show to discuss the Commonwealth Games on Monday morning.
Pulling a nearby soccer fan on camera, the new Australian Rugby League (ARL) commissioner wrongly identified the boy’s soccer jersey for that of the Newcastle Knights.
This is the cringeworthy moment the new rugby league commissioner, Peter Beattie, confused a young Barcelona FC supporter for a Newcastle Knights fan
‘You’re obviously a Knights supporter… good on you son,’ Beattie said to the youngster.
Speaking from the newsroom in Sydney, Today host Karl Stefanovic tried to correct the former politician.
‘No, looks like Knights, but I think that’s a soccer team in Barcelona,’ Stefanovic said.
Stefanovic went on to make fun of the new ARL Commission chairman saying: ‘Peter Beattie is on top of sports, let me tell you’.
Beattie appeared unaware of his mistake, and more interested in getting the boy acquainted with Stefanovic.
‘Hello Karl, he likes you,’ Beattie said while grinning at the camera.
Beattie appeared to miss the Qatar Airways sponsorship splashed across the jersey and the Barcelona logo sewed on, seeing only the similar colour scheme.
Stefanovic went on to make fun of the new ARL Commission chairman saying: ‘Peter Beattie is on top of sports, let me tell you’
Beattie started his new role as ARL commissioner in August last year, taking over from predecessor John Grant.
Beattie said his experience in the Labor Party prepared him for the new role in rugby league politics.
Appearing to take a dig at the Labor Party, he said: ‘There’s politics in every endeavour and you don’t get anything tougher than Labor politics – it doesn’t matter what else any politics throws at me’.
Beattie’s Monday morning gaffe comes a month after he failed to identify NRL side, the Cronulla Sharks.
In an interview with Phil Gould, Beattie was asked if the Sutherland Shire team was called the ‘Cronulla Hawks, Cronulla Seagulls or the Cronulla Sharks’.
The former politician stumbled over his answer before admitting he was unable to answer.
Peter Beattie pictured with Sharks coach Shane Flanagan on the night of the blunder
‘I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have a bloody clue… it’s got to be Cronulla of some kind. It’s too bloody hard that’s too difficult,’ he said.
Taking to social media the following day, Beattie apologised for his blunder and cited nerves for the oversight.
‘Yes I stuffed up the answer; just nervous in front of the great Phil Gould. Yeah I’m human. I had a mental blank,’ he said.
‘The price of doing the NRL and the Commonwealth Games at the same time.’
Taking to social media the following day, Beattie apologised for his blunder and cited nerves for the oversight
Speaking to Mr Beattie (pictured) as fallout from the disappointing closing ceremony continued, Koch demanded to know what went wrong
The interview came as Channel Seven Sunrise host David Koch slammed the Commonwealth Games boss over the event’s shocking closing ceremony.
Organisers were under fire over the Sunday night event, which robbed viewers of the chance to see the athletes arrive, including flag bearer Kurt Fearnley.
Speaking to Beattie as fallout from the disappointing closing ceremony continued, Koch demanded to know what went wrong.
‘It was such a magnificent Games, how can you stuff up the closing ceremony?’ Koch asked the former Queensland premier.
‘Every other closing ceremony the athletes have been involved, they are the star of the show. It seems like it was put together by some arty-farty entertainment director.’
Sunrise host David Koch (pictured, left) has slammed Gold Coast Commonwealth Games boss Peter Beattie (pictured, right) over the event’s shocking closing ceremony
Beattie responded by admitting the organisers ‘got it wrong’, but came up with a bizarre justification for the decision.
‘We were concerned about athletes’ welfare, one of the problems is when you’ve got thousands of athletes, where do you put them?’ he said.
‘This decision to bring the athletes into the stadium before the broadcast was operationally driven given there were restrictions on being able to keep the athletes waiting in comfort.
‘We got that wrong.
‘The speeches were too many and too long. I was part of that and I acknowledge it. Again, we got that wrong.’
Mr Beattie also apologised on social media, saying on Twitter: ‘We wanted athletes to be part of and enjoy the Closing Ceremony (pictured)