Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek slams decision for Newcastle Jets clash to proceed in forecast 38C temperatures

The decision for Adelaide United’s A-League clash with Newcastle Jets to proceed in forecast 38C heat has been slammed by Reds coach Gertjan Verbeek, who claims it is detrimental to the health of players and fans.

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Gertjan Verbeek has slammed the decision for Adelaide United’s clash with Newcastle Jets to proceed in forecast 38C heat, claiming it is detrimental to the health of players and fans.

The Reds coach was highly critical of Football Federation Australia’s refusal to move Sunday’s Hindmarsh Stadium fixture from the scheduled 5.30pm kick-off time.

Verbeek said the club’s request to shift the match to 7pm or 7.30pm had fallen on deaf ears and feared those on the pitch, and in the stands, would pay the price.

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“The most important thing is the health of the players and the spectators,” Verbeek said.

“There is no advantage for anybody to play so early and I don’t understand why they don’t play a little bit later.

“We tried to change the (kick-off) time, but we weren’t successful.

Coach Gertjan Verbeek has slammed the decision for Adelaide United’s match with Newcastle Jets to proceed in forecast 38C temperatures. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

“Not only for the players, but also for the fans to sit here, there is no roof, so no shadow.

“It will be very hot.

“It’s a pity that more and more only the commercial thing about football is important and not the fans and the players.”

The A-League uses the wet bulb globe temperature reading to determine whether it is safe for matches to be played in hot weather.

In addition to ambient temperature, it accounts for factors such as humidity, cloud cover, solar radiation, wind and shade to gauge players’ risk of heat-related illness.

The conditions will be assessed in the lead-up to the match, but early indications are it will continue as planned.

Verbeek will also have to contend with the loss of midfield ace Riley McGree, who will miss the Jets encounter with a knee ligament injury.

Adelaide United’s leading goal scorer Riley McGree will miss the Reds’ fixture with Newcastle Jets due to a knee injury. Picture: AAP Image/James Elsby

The Dutchman hoped his leading scorer will be fit to return following next weekend’s bye.

He revealed 18-year-old attacker Lachlan Brook will be on the bench, as third-placed Adelaide prepared to face Newcastle for the third time in three months in all competitions.

“We’ve improved a lot, but also Newcastle,” said Verbeek, who oversaw a gritty come-from-behind success in the sides’ last meeting in the Hunter.

“They’ve won the last two games, so they have a lot of confidence and they also know that in the first half (of the league match) they were the better team.

“They will now know how we play and how we do it, and we know how Newcastle s doing it.”

Verbeek would not reveal plans to limit the menace of Jets danger man Dimitri Petratos, who scored in his side’s 2-0 victory over Western Sydney last weekend.

Teenage attacker Lachlan Brook has been promoted to Adelaide United’s squad for the visit of Newcastle Jets. Picture: Matt Turner

The manager said his team’s lax attitude in training, which he claimed proved costly in last Sunday’s surprise home loss to Wellington Phoenix, had been addressed.

“It will be different and you can’t compare it with last week.

“This week I was satisfied about the training until now.

“Wellington played good football, but they also got the opportunity to play good football because we were not where we have to be.

“That’s the lesson.

“When we do the basic things very well, then we are difficult to stop and we can win and beat every team.

“But if we don’t do it, then we can also lose to every team.”