Adelaide United captain Isaias attracts Asian interest, while FFA investigates Reds coaches’ conduct

Adelaide United is fighting off interest in captain Isaias from a cashed-up western Asian club, while it awaits the outcome of an investigation into the conduct of its departing coaching staff following last week’s semi-final loss.

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ADELAIDE United is fighting off interest in captain Isaias from a cashed-up Asian club, while it awaits the outcome of an investigation into the conduct of its departing coaching staff.

The Reds on Friday confirmed they had been approached by a side from the west of the continent about securing the services of inspirational leader Isaias for next season.

It came as Football Federation Australia revealed it was looking into a post-match incident from United’s A-League semi-final loss to Perth Glory, believed to involve Adelaide coaches.

A Reds spokesman said no formal offer for Isaias had been tabled by the club, reportedly based in Qatar.

But the potential departure of the 159-game skipper would be a hammer blow for Adelaide as it prepared for a new era under its incoming coach.

Isaias, who was under contract until the end of next campaign, again shone this term, winning his third-straight club champion award in the Reds’ march to a fourth-place finish.

Adelaide United captain Isaias has attracted interest from a club in western Asia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

But his head would surely be turned by the lucrative financial package likely to be offered to him by a wealthy Gulf outfit.

Such a move would also place him closer to his Spanish homeland.

The midfield dynamo became an Australian citizen in January, prompting widespread calls for a Socceroos call-up. But his dual-nationality would appeal to Asian clubs, given it meant he would not be classified a foreigner in many leagues across the region.

Meanwhile, the Reds said they would await news of potential sanctions before responding to FFA’s investigation into an alleged incident from last Friday’s playoff defeat in the west.

The governing body would not shed further light on the individuals involved or potential punishments from the matter following the gripping playoff demise to the Glory.

But it was believed to centre on the actions of United goalkeeper coach Frank Juric, who allegedly confronted match officials post-game and attempted to enter their changeroom.

Departing Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz expressed his anger following his side’s penalty shootout loss to Perth Glory. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Other members of Adelaide’s coaching team then allegedly became involved in an altercation with ground security as they vented their anger towards the officials.

Coach Marco Kurz expressed his dismay after the encounter over the lack of a coin toss by referee Alex King to determine which end of Perth Oval was used for the spot kicks.

The procedure was generally followed under the rules of the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for determining the laws of the game. But FFA said the shootout taking place in front of Perth’s diehard fans was based on Fox Sports placing more cameras where it believed the best TV images would be captured.

It said it had predetermined the location of penalties for the past seven years.

A spokesman for VenuesWest, which operated the ground, said it was aware of a post-match incident, but the matter was being handled by FFA. Juric, along with Kurz and assistant coach Filip Tapalovic, were due to officially finish their contracts with Adelaide on Saturday.