Wanderers coach Marko Rudan slams A-League for bias against his club

Rudan believes biases against Wanderers at A-League headquarters are affecting the calls Western Sydney gets on the pitch.

Marko Rudan unloaded on the A-League, its referees, and their alleged bias against his club after Western Sydney Wanderers’ late 4-3 loss to Macarthur FC on Sunday. The 48-year-old boss was furious that Macarthur FC striker Valere Germain was not sent off in the match. 

Wanderers and Macarthur FC play in thrilling Western Sydney derby match

To say that Sunday’s Macarthur FC vs. Western Sydney Wanderers match was an emotional affair would be a massive understatement. 

This Western Sydney derby match was full of contentious occasions, including an incident where Macarthur striker Valere Germain seemingly raked through Wanderers’ Tom Beadling. Germain was allowed to stay on the pitch following the challenge and ended up scoring a hat-trick in the match. Beadling, meanwhile, was himself shown a red card in the 52nd minute for a reckless challenge through the back of Macarthur captain Ulises Davila.

The match ended 4-3 after Germain scored the winner in the 93rd minute for Macarthur. Wanderers’ goalie Lawrence Thomas made a diving effort to swat the ball off the goaline, but the referees determined the ball had already crossed the line. 

Rudan “sick and tired” of A-League bias

Wanderers’ boss Marko Rudan was fired up after this emotional game and unleashed his own emotions on the A-League and the referees. He took particular offence to the fact that Germain stayed on the pitch after fouling Beadling. 

“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,” said Rudan.

The former Sydney FC player then went on to accuse the match referee Adam Kersey and the A-League for bias against his side. “This guy, [Kersey]..., there is a bit of history between myself and him and he knows that very well,” said Rudan. 

“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.” He continued saying he was “sick and tired” of calls like the Germain foul going against him and Wanderers. 

According to the A-League and Football Australia, there was no reason to send Germain off. “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,” said FA head of referees Nathan Magill.

Rudan alleges deeper bias

Rudan’s rant after the Macarthur match was principally targeting the referees, but he also took aim at the A-League as a whole. 

“I’ll start by saying there is an absolute stigma attached to my football club and it’s clear for all to see, you can say whatever you want,” said Rudan after the match, referencing the Wanderers fan culture, recent criticism of the A-League, and multiple bans Wanderers fans have faced in recent years from the league. 

“A lot of people have lost trust in the league…They’re not turning up, because they’ve lost trust and faith in the system.”

Wanderers are fourth in the A-League Men’s ladder, one place behind Macarthur and five points behind Wellington Phoenix at the top of the league. The betting sites have Western Sydney as locks to qualify for the Finals Series and fifth favourite, with $8.00 odds, to win the Grand Final.

The A-League has issued a show-cause notice to Rudan for his post-match comments. Barring some extremely unlikely situation where Football Australia decides to forgive Rudan, he will likely face some sanctions from the league. He will likely be suspended and/or fined.