Western Sydney Wanderers coach Mark Rudan suspended for ‘derogatory’ outburst

After two outbursts towards officials, Western Sydney Wanderers coach Mark Rudan has been given a lengthy suspension for bringing football into ‘disrepute’.

Mark Rudan comments have led to him being suspended for three games. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Outspoken Western Sydney coach Mark Rudan has been banned for three games for his “derogatory” outburst which questioned the integrity of A-League referees, leading to him being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

Rudan had been given a show cause notice by Football Australia for his inflammatory comments after his side’s 4-3 loss to Macarthur on February 4.

He clashed with referee Adam Kersey on-field before declaring there was a “stigma” associated with his team and that they were being treated more harshly than others.

In handing down its findings after an investigation, Rudan was deeme to have created a “hostile or unsafe environment within the sport” by his words and actions and copped the ban.

After an investigation in to the comments, FA found that Rudan had:

- Engaged in offensive behaviour, including the use of offensive, obscene, abusive, provocative, indecent, or insulting gestures, language, or chanting (Clause 2.2(a) of the Code)

- engaged in intimidating another person, creating a hostile or unsafe environment within the sport (Clause 2.2(d) of the Code).

Wanderers coach Mark Rudan has been suspended. Picture: Damian Briggs/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

- Engaged in conduct that brings, or may bring, Football Australia, its sponsors, a Football Administrator, or football generally into disrepute or which is otherwise prejudicial to the interests of Football Australia or football generally (Clause 2.2(g) of the Code).

- Made comments, statements, or representations to the public, including via any contribution to any form of media, that are disparaging or derogatory of an official, including a match official, opposition team, or any player (Clause 2.6(a) of the Code).

- failed to behave at all times in a manner that promotes and upholds high standards of integrity, dignity, and professionalism (Clause 5(a)(i) of the Code).

One match of the three-game ban will be a suspended sanction until the end of the season.

It means he will banned from coaching the Wanderers on Sunday against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford, and on Saturday week against Adelaide United at Coopers

Stadium.

He will return to the coaching dugout on March 2 for the Wanderers’ derby battle with Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium.

Among Rudan’s offences were engaging in offensive behaviour, including the use of offensive, obscene, abusive, provocative, indecent, or insulting language, and engaging in intimidating another person, creating a hostile or unsafe environment within the sport.

He was also found to have engaged in conduct that football, into disrepute, and made comments to the public that were disparaging or derogatory of a match official.

Rudan was also punished for failing to behave in a manner that promoted and upheld high standards of integrity, dignity, and professionalism.

Originally published as Western Sydney Wanderers coach Mark Rudan suspended for ‘derogatory’ outburst