Wanderers coach Marko Rudan unleashes on the state of the A-League

A last-gasp loss was the catalyst for an epic spray that is sure to have repercussions for the prominent A-League coach.

Wanderers head coach Marko Rudan protests to the referee after full-time in the clash with Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan is set to be punished for his stinging comments – including questioning the integrity of referee Adam Kersey – after the Wanderers’ 4-3 weekend loss to Macarthur FC.

Rudan has been issued with a show cause notice under Football Australia’s code of conduct and ethics.

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Following Sunday’s match at Campbelltown Stadium, Rudan unleashed a stunning rebuke on the broader A-League and a perceived bias against the Wanderers that he believes is spilling over on to the pitch before storming out of a post-match press conference.

The former Wellington Phoenix and Western United boss claimed there was a “stigma” attached to the Wanderers that affected the fans, members and players, with the code also battling a financial crisis.

Rudan – whose potential punishments include a reprimand, fine and/or suspension – said people had “lost trust” in the A-League and fans were “not turning up” as poor crowds continued to plague the competition, with just one game across the weekend attracting more than 10,000 people.

Marko Rudan has erupted after Western Sydney’s defeat. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

A fired-up Rudan also slammed referee Kersey’s decision not to show Macarthur striker Valere Germain a straight red card, claiming the Frenchman brought a boot down heavily onto Wanderers defender Tom Beadling.

Germain went on to score a hat-trick, including the matchwinner in stoppage time, while Beadling was dismissed in the second half for a needless challenge from behind on Bulls captain Ulises Davila.

“This guy (Kersey) … there is a bit of history between myself and him and he knows that very well,” the Wanderers coach said.

“For the life of me, how Germain stays on the pitch when he kicks out at my player in that first half, I have absolutely no idea.

“It’s a retaliation, it’s a clear red. It happened to my players last year, but when it does happen to my football club and my players, they don’t even think twice, it’s a straight red.”

FA referees boss Nathan Magill defended the decision not to send off Germain.

“The VAR did review an incident between Valere Germain and Tom Beadling, in the first half, concluding that the studs of Germain’s boot did not make contact with the body of Beadling, so it was deemed not to be violent conduct,” Magill said.

“That being said, this was a missed yellow card against Germain, something which we have discussed with the match referee as part of Football Australia’s weekly performance review of its officials.”

Wanderers head coach Marko Rudan protests to the referee after full-time in the clash with Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Rudan said he was “sick and tired” of decisions “continually” going against the Wanderers. .

“We were the cleanest team in the competition three weeks ago, least amount of yellows, least amount of fouls … then all of a sudden we get two (reds) in two weeks,” he said.

“It’s not me having a sook here, there are a lot of clubs with a good fan base … but this club brought something different to the league … but there’s something clearly wrong.

“Ever since I came into the football club you feel it even more. As an outsider watching I saw it unfold and I thought that’s quite unfair.

“When this football club was created, everyone spoke around the league in glowing fashion about the colour, the entertainment, the noise, the singing and how it was a godsend to the league.”

“The west of Sydney is a diverse multicultural area made up of predominantly Europeans, my parents are one of them. Football in Europe and South America and all over the world, when it comes to fans, is on a different level.

“So everybody praises the club, praises its fans for doing all that, and then some issues occur and all of a sudden, since that moment years ago, there’s been this stigma and our poor fans and members have had to pay the price.

WOW! INCREDIBLE DRAMA AT THE DEATH! 😱😱😱

Valere Germain's header is adjudged to have crossed the line to complete his hat-trick and win the points for @mfcbulls! 🤯

Lawrence Thomas can't believe it!

📰 https://t.co/wwiqy46i9N#MACvWSW#ALMpic.twitter.com/7pklxNUJoA

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 4, 2024

“A lot of people have lost trust in the league … anywhere else in the world you see fireworks, you see smoke, you see noise, it’s crazy, that’s what differentiates our game from every other code in this country.

“Certainly, the fans around the country want to keep talking about a successful Wanderers. Well, they’re not turning up, because they’ve lost trust and faith in the system.”

To rub salt in the Wanderers’ wounds, there were also doubts over whether Germain’s third goal crossed the line as keeper Lawrence Thomas attempted to drag the ball back in time.

“The message to us was ‘not enough angles to see if the ball was over the line for the winner’,” Rudan said.

“Then the linesman is clear and adamant that it went over the line at the same time, with three or four bodies around him. OK, no dramas. They don’t look at it.”

The VAR is understood to have studied all available angles before deciding that there was nothing conclusive to warrant the on-field decision of goal to be overturned.

Originally published as Wanderers coach Marko Rudan unleashes on the state of the A-League