Wanderers coach Tony Popovic fined by FFA over referee blast

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic is the latest A-League mentor to get slapped down by Football Federation Australia.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic’s comments about the officials in round six has cost him a fine of $3000.

Football Federation Australia has punished yet another A-League manager for speaking out against referees, fining Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic $3000.

FFA found Popovic guilty of breaching the body’s national code of conduct after he took aim at referee Jarred Gillett over a missed penalty in his side’s 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory in round six.

Gillett decided against awarding a penalty to the Wanderers when Jason Geria crudely tackled Jumpei Kasakumi in the box.

Replays showed the young fullback missed the ball and fouled the Japanese attacker, an error A-League boss Greg O’Rourke named on Monday as one of 11 recorded from this season’s opening six rounds.

“If that’s not a penalty, they should book him for diving,” Popovic said in his post-match interview on Fox Sports.

The Wanderers coach also made pointed reference to the club’s record with Gillett in the middle — just one win in 11 games — suggesting “maybe it’s just a coincidence”.

O’Rourke said it was vital “all players and coaches consider their words carefully when offering their thoughts”.

“Any comments direct or implied that reflect on the integrity of a referee are unacceptable and will be acted upon in line with our code of conduct,” O’Rourke said.

“Respect towards match officials is not a ‘nice to have’, it is a fundamental of our game required at every level.”

Popovic is the fourth manager to earn the ire of FFA for outbursts, less than a third of the way through a season making headlines for contentious refereeing decisions.

Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor on Monday copped a one-game touchline ban and must now face a tribunal to decide whether his punishment is increased after he was sent to the stands during Friday’s 3-1 loss to Perth Glory.

Perth coach Kenny Lowe (two-match ban) and Victory coach Kevin Muscat ($5000 fine) have also found themselves in hot water.

It comes a day after O’Rourke mounted a fierce defence of the league’s adjudicators in response to a weekend embroiled in controversy as managers’ relationships with officials approached boiling point.

O’Rourke said the standard of officiating was the best the competition has seen, using FFA statistics showing that up until round six there were 11 errors recorded — an improvement on previous years.

He intends to talk with clubs to “reset the expectations” of frustrated coaches.

Popovic has seven business days to appeal his punishment.

Central Coast striker Roy O’Donovan, meanwhile, has leapt to the defence of referees, saying it’s unfair to blame them for unwanted results.

Mariners coach Paul Okon was outspoken on Sunday over what he believed was a Newcastle handball not called by referee Jonathan Barreiro in his side’s 1-1 draw with the Jets.

O’Donovan referenced the inevitable role human error plays on the pitch.

FFA hopes to remove the human element by introducing video replays, most likely by the time of the finals series.

AAP