Wanderers coach Markus Babbel in strife for F-bomb tirade over VAR

Western Sydney could be without both coach and player after Markus Babbel and Daniel Georgievski were cited for post-match blow-ups.

Wanderers coach Markus Babbel swore his way through a post-match press conference. Picture: Getty Images

Western Sydney could face a trip to Wellington on Saturday week without both coach and player after Markus Babbel and Daniel Georgievski were cited for their respective post-match blow-ups.

The Wanderers received a show-cause notice from Football Federation Australia on Monday asking why coach Babbel should avoid a ban or fine for his double F-bomb press conference.

And defender Georgievski also faces sanction for his social media post branding officials a disgrace over a decision that cost his side dearly.

The unceasing muddle of confusion and perceived inconsistencies surrounding the VAR made yet more headlines on the weekend.

Babbel was irate after a contentious penalty decision denied the Wanderers a share of the points in Friday night’s at-the-death 3-2 loss to Melbourne City.

Referee Chris Beath awarded City a penalty for Pirmin Schwegler’s shirt-tug on Denis Genreau, a decision met with indignation from Wanderers fans that was only compounded when the VAR reviewed the incident but did not overturn the penalty.

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The plain-speaking Babbel, in an attempt to stop himself publicly castigating Beath and VAR Kris Griffiths-Jones during his post-match press conference, instead opted for belligerence towards journalists.

A question about the merit of the penalty evoked a “Serious question? F..k’s sake. No comment.”

Quizzed further on whether he believed Genreau had dived, Babbel said: “You have two eyes, huh? Do you understand the game a bit? F..king have a look.

“It changed the whole game. Before then I never have the feeling they can score a goal because the boys defend fantastic … I promised I’m not saying anything about the referees. But we are not blind here, no? Write it down.”

Georgievski, who had stitches for a cut lip courtesy of Rostyn Griffiths’ elbow, posted a since-expired Instagram story featuring a photo of Beath alongside the word “disgrace”.

Both have until next Monday at 5pm to provide a submission, meaning they’ll definitely be free to travel to Newcastle this Saturday but could find themselves sanctioned for the away game against Phoenix the following week. The news comes three weeks after Wellington Phoenix defender Louis Fenton avoided sanction for his expletive-laden explosion on live TV following another penalty awarded to City.

“I thought 100 per cent no pen, because it didn’t even hit my f..king hand,” Fenton told Fox Sports. “It’s f..ked.”
• Melbourne Victory’s W-League team will chase international silverware when they take on three of the best teams from Japan, South Korea and China in this week’s inaugural AFC Women’s Club Championship in South Korea. They will have to do so without two of their international signings, with Victory confirming they can only field three international players in Yongin, as per AFC rules.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, AAP