Coach in strife for ref blast
Rudan facing penalty
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 loss to Macarthur FC.
Rudan has been issued with a show cause notice under Football Australia’s code of conduct and ethics.
Following Sunday’s match at Campbelltown Stadium, Rudan unleashed a stunning rebuke on the broader ALeague and a perceived bias against the Wanderers that he said he believed was spilling over on to the pitch, before storming out of a post-match press conference.
The former Wellington Phoenix and Western United coach said 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 at the weekend attracting more than 10,000 people.
Rudan also attacked referee Kersey’s decision not to show Macarthur striker Valere Germain a straight red card, claiming the Frenchman brought a boot down heavily on to Wanderers defender Tom Beadling.
Germain went on to score a hat-trick, including the match winner 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,” Rudan 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.”
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.”
Arsenal rekindled its bid for a first Premier League title in 20 years by beating leader Liverpool 3-1 at the Emirates as Chelsea succumbed to another embarrassing defeat, 4-2 at home to Wolves.
Liverpool’s hopes of sending off manager Jurgen Klopp as a champion of England were dented as Arsenal closed to within two points at the top of the table.
Arsenal dominated the opening stages and got its reward with the opening goal. Bukayo Saka stroked home after Alisson Becker denied Kai Havertz.
Liverpool did not have a shot on target in the first half but levelled, after a defensive mix-up, when Gabriel Magalhaes turned Luis Diaz’s cross into his own net.
The visitors repaid the favour after the break as Alisson collided with Virgil van Dijk as he rushed out from his goal and presented Gabriel Martinelli with the simplest of tasks to roll into an empty net.
Leandro Trossard then took advantage of the space on the right side of the Liverpool defence as he surged forward and blasted beyond Alisson.
“We were ruthless when we had a chance and it feels like a big win,” said manager
Mikel Arteta. “It gives us momentum and the way we have done it we are back on (the title race).
“(I’m) really excited.” Defending champion Manchester City remains just five points off the top but now has two games in hand, starting with a visit to Brentford on Monday, to overhaul Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino apologised to the Chelsea fans after Matheus Cunha’s hat-trick handed Wolves their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
The Blues were booed off by furious fans after dropping into the bottom half of the table.