Sydney FC missed out on Alex Baumjohann before the German playmaker joined the Wanderers

Alex Baumjohann joining boss Markus Babbel at the Wanderers appeared a logical move but the German playmaker could easily have been at Sydney FC.

Wanderers fans and neutrals will be hoping Alex Baumjohann can turn it on in the derby as the German playmaker has easily been the high point of Western Sydney’s ­underwhelming season so far.

It was a logical move for incoming Wanderers boss Markus Babbel to sign a player he knew so well from the Bundesliga — and yet Baumjohann could easily have been playing in different colours on Saturday night.

EXPANSION WINNER: South-west club want Milicic as coach

TORTUOUS PROCESS: Populist pitch can’t be long-term plan

Last year, when the 31-year-old had become disillusioned with life in the Bundesliga, we hear his ­representatives contacted Sydney FC to see if they were interested in signing Baumjohann but, having weighed up a player coming back from a second serious knee injury, then-Sydney boss Graham Arnold passed.

The Mariners were also contacted but had nowhere near enough money to even think about it.

Instead, Baumjohann moved to play in Brazil before ending up at the Wanderers, thanks to Babbel.

What price him showing Sydney what they could have had on Saturday night?

Wanderers playmaker Alex Baumjohann could have been a Sydney FC player. Picture: Justin Lloyd

****

A-League referees are up in arms over what they see as being hung out to dry by the league’s bosses over abuse from players and coaches.

All A-League refs will use tape to cover the “Respect” badge on their kit this week after Wellington coach Mark Rudan wasn’t punished for a tirade against referee Adam Hersey a fortnight ago.

“It couldn’t have been more one-sided … if he can sleep well at night, good on him,” Rudan raged.

But that wasn’t the first such incident after the Professional Football Referees Association claimed a homophobic slur was shouted at an official by a player after a game but no action was taken.

Former A-League ref Strebre Delovski calls it “bullying” and harassment” and woe betide any match commissioner who tries to insist the tape is removed.

Wellington coach Mark Rudan wasn’t punished for his tirade against a referee. Picture: Getty Images

****

It seems the management at Spotless Stadium really don’t get the level of outrage at the quality of pitch they served up for Western Sydney’s first game of the season, one described by Baumjohann as the worst of his career.

Instead of apologising, Spotless bosses complained to A-League officials that Fox Sports had deliberately put a filter on their cameras to make the pitch look worse than it was.

The complaint provoked nothing but sniggers.

The Spotless Stadium pitch has come under fire. Picture: Getty Images

****

If South Melbourne are wondering why they didn’t get an A-League licence, the fact that the PFA has had to get involved over the non-payment of wages to their NPL players might give them a clue.

It’s hardly the best look when you’re trying to convince the new FFA board of your fiduciary ­respectability.

****

Brisbane Roar’s efforts to get Friday night’s home clash with Melbourne Victory postponed have fallen on deaf ears, despite 60mm of rain being predicted for the city.

The pitch is expected to be cut to pieces at Suncorp Stadium even beforehand but FFA bosses refused to countenance a postponement.

Get every match of the 2018/19 Hyundai A-League LIVE. Get 1 month free Sport HD plus Entertainment with no lock-in contract and no iQ4 box fee. T&C apply. SIGN UP NOW!