- Marko Rudan suspended for two games by Football Australia
- His behavior towards referee Adam Kersey was considered “offensive”
- I followed the post-match commentary in the 4-3 loss to Macarthur this month.
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan has received the longest men’s coaching ban in eight years for his attack on referees.
Rudan will be out of action for at least two games after Football Australia deemed his post-match tirade against referee Adam Kersey “offensive”.
The 48-year-old will miss games against Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United.
“Mr Rudan was found to have bullied another person, creating a hostile or unsafe environment within the sport,” an FA statement said on Friday.
‘(He) made comments, statements or representations to the public, including through any contribution to any media, that are derogatory or derogatory towards an official.’
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan has received the longest men’s coaching ban in eight years for his attack on referees.
Rudan will be out of action for at least two games after his post-match tirade directed at referee Adam Kersey on February 4 was deemed “offensive” by Football Australia.
The sanction leaves Rudan with a three-game suspension, one of them suspended, until the end of the 2024/25 season.
It is the longest ban since former Adelaide United coach Guillermo Amor served a two-match ban, with the additional warning of two suspended, for making “intentional contact” with a match referee in 2016.
Rudan’s sanctions come after FA boss James Johnson this week promised to crack down on referee abuse.
Johnson said a recent series of incidents involving referees had set off “alarm bells” for the FA.
The Western Sydney coach confronted Kersey at the final whistle following his side’s 4-3 Round 14 loss to Macarthur on February 4 before unleashing his six-minute monologue.
Rudan was frustrated that Wanderers defender Tom Beadling had received a straight red card, while Macarthur striker Valere Germain, who coincidentally scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, remained on the field to challenge Beadling.
‘There is an absolute stigma attached to my football club. It’s clear to everyone,” Rudan said after the match.
“The game changed radically with the red card and everything else.
Wanderers players were left in disbelief on multiple occasions during the match against Macarthur FC earlier this month (pictured, goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas)
‘In the last two weeks, I have had two players who are not synonymous with fouling or being dirty, but they are straight reds.
“For the life of me, how Germain stays on the field when he kicks my player in the first half, I don’t have the slightest idea.
“I’m not sitting here crying or complaining, however that may seem, I’m just defending my football club.”
He then redoubled his attack on the league as a whole, taking aim at commissioner Nick Garcia and lamenting the competition’s lack of goal-line technology at a midweek press conference.
Rudan will miss Sunday’s game against second-placed Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United on February 24.
He will be able to return for their match against fierce derby rivals Sydney FC on March 2.