Ersan Gulum was angered by send off against Central Coast

ERSAN Gulum could be facing a lengthy ban based on his furious exit after he was expelled during Adelaide United’s explosive 2-2 draw with Central Coast at Hindmarsh on Saturday.

Ersan Gulum of United receives a red card for a tackle on Trent Buhagiar.

• Kosmina: Pitch farce government failure

ERSAN Gulum could be facing a lengthy ban based on his furious exit after he was expelled during Adelaide United’s explosive 2-2 draw with Central Coast Mariners at Hindmarsh on Saturday night.

Gulum was angered by referee Shaun Evans sending him off in the 17th minute before clapping his hands and having a word in front of fourth official Jonathan Barreiro before storming down the tunnel.

Football Federation Australia’s match review panel has the authority to hand Gulum much more than the mandatory one-game ban after the Besiktas legend’s controversial red card was game changing.

Ersan Gulum of United reacts after receiving a red card.

The video assistant referee Craig Zetter had the power and technology to alert referee Shaun Evans to take another video replay look at the expulsion after Gulum’s tussle with Mariners’ Trent Buhagiar saw the attacker hit the deck theatrically outside the box.

A Fox Sports camera angle from behind the southern goal showed contact was minimal yet VAR chose to ignore giving Evans a second look at the incident which may cost Gulum more than a one-match ban.

The MRP is expected to hand down a decision on the length of Gulum’s suspension at about 5pm on Monday.

Adelaide coach Marco Kurz was also booked before the start of the second half after the German was fired up when he approached Evans claiming he was asking for an explanation when both teams headed for the halftime break.

During this current FIFA sanctioned VAR experiment, the VAR should be used for three main incidents that have been identified as game changing including red cards, goals and penalties and also mistaken identity when referees incorrectly dish out a red card or caution to a wrong player.

Ersan Gulum of United receives a red card for this tackle on Trent Buhagiar.

The poor pitch did Adelaide a favour for goal scoring hero George Blackwood.

Blackwood said Mariners’ right back Storm Roux had misjudged the bounce of the ball twice perhaps because of the average deck as United was pressing for an equaliser.

Blackwood scored in the 83rd minute when he controlled a cross from Daniel Adlung which Roux misjudged.

“I made sure I read this one (cross), I was in line with the ball and had a good first touch, hit it and went in,’’ Blackwood.

“It just skidded on (the ball from the cross), thanks to the groundsman as well.”

Blackwood says the mentality is second to none after Adelaide despite playing with 10 men for 73 minutes battered Mariners in the second half.

“It’s either fight or go sit on the bench with Marco (Kurz),’’ Blackwood said.

“When we went down to 10 men everyone was putting in the hard yards.”

Follow @ValMigliaccio