Muscat on guard for mind games

MELBOURNE Victory will not be offering a guard of honour to premier Sydney FC in their last-round clash tonight, dismissing the notion as mind games and propaganda.

A Fairfax Media report said Sydney requested the act of recognition from its rival before kick-off at Allianz Stadium.

But it will not be happening after the idea and its tabling through the media sparked a furious response from Victory coach Kevin Muscat.

“There’s nothing to fulfil . . . there hasn’t been a request,” Muscat said.

“We haven’t heard anything about it.”

A Sydney FC spokesman said an email was sent to Victory’s football operations team, asking whether Victory would be offering the guard of honour, confirming it was sent after the report.

Victory believes the episode to be an effort in gamesmanship.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold distanced himself from the request.

“I don’t know anything about that. Last year Newcastle did it for us (but) we didn’t ask for it, they did it,” Arnold said.

“It’s totally up to Melbourne and we’re just preparing to walk down that tunnel.”

The tit-for-tat shows there’s still plenty of life in the Big Blue, despite Sydney’s twoyear domination of the fixture.

Victory has lost its past seven editions of the contest — including last year’s grand final when Sydney FC claimed the championship on penalties.