- Marko Rudan has been suspended for two matches by Football Australia
- His behavior towards referee Adam Kersey has been deemed ‘offensive’
- Followed post-game comments on the 4-3 defeat to Macarthur this month
Western Sydney Wanderers boss Marko Rudan has been handed the longest A-League Men 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 matches against Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United.
“Mr Rudan was found to have engaged in intimidating another person, creating a hostile or unsafe environment within the sport,” an FA statement said on Friday.
“(He) made comments, statements or declarations to the public, including through contributions to any form of media, that are disparaging or derogatory of any official.”
Western Sydney Wanderers boss Marko Rudan has been handed the longest A-League Men 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 on February 4 ‘offensive’
The sanction sees Rudan receive a three-match suspension and one match suspension until the end of the 2024/25 season.
It is the longest sanction since former Adelaide United coach Guillermo Amor served a two-match ban, with the added warning of two suspended, for ‘intentional contact’ with a match official in 2016.
Rudan’s sanctions come after FA chief James Johnson this week vowed to crack down on the abuse of match officials.
Johnson said a recent spate of incidents involving referees had set off “alarm bells” at the FA.
The Western Sydney coach confronted Kersey after the full-time whistle following his team’s 4-3 Round 14 defeat to Macarthur on February 4, before unleashing his six-minute monologue.
Rudan was frustrated. Wanderers defender Tom Beadling had been shown a straight red, while Macarthur striker Valere Germain, who coincidentally scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, remained on the pitch for a challenge on Beadling.
‘There is an absolute stigma attached to my football club. It’s plain for everyone to see,” Rudan said after the match.
‘The match turned upside down with the red card and everything else.
Wanderers players were in disbelief several times during the match against Macarthur FC earlier this month (photo, goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas)
‘In the last two weeks I have had two players who are not synonymous with making mistakes or being dirty, but still straight red.
‘For me, how Germain stays on the pitch when he kicks at my player in that first half, I have absolutely no idea.
“I’m not sitting here whining or whining, whatever it may sound like. I’m just defending my football club.’
He then doubled down on his attack on the league as a whole, pointing the gun at commissioner Nick Garcia and lamenting the league’s lack of goal-line technology during a midweek press conference.
Rudan will miss Sunday’s match 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.