Robbie Slater says it's "a disgrace" he didn't get invited to the Dolan Warren Awards but Football Federation Australia is adamant the former Socceroo was on the guest list.
Slater was a notable absentee at Monday night's A-League and W-League ceremony and told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday morning he would have gone if he'd been welcome.
The Fox Sports pundit is one of numerous media representatives who voted weekly on the Johnny Warren Medal, won by Sydney FC's Adrian Mierzejewski.
"I'd say for the last five or six years, maybe longer, I've been presenting awards at the big night," Slater said.
"Remember I had a bit of a pop at the FFA earlier in the season? It was quite a big pop actually.
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"Mate, I didn't get invited, I never got invited. It's unbelievable isn't it?
"It is a disgrace to be honest. It is a disgrace.
"Not very happy about it. No call, no nothing.
"As I said, I always present awards, normally goal of the year or something … I always look forward to it, to be part of it."
Slater labelled FFA "petty" and then took to Twitter to voice his irritation, posting: "Nice to not be invited to @ALeague awards ! Typical of current people involved #xmasxlosed"
Slater has been critical of FFA this season, in January slamming the governing body over its "farcical pursuit" of a new Socceroos coach and calling the two 'international experts' hired to help – Gerard Houllier and Andy Roxburgh – "faceless men".
Brushed: Robbie Slater.
Photo: Steven Siewert
But an FFA spokesperson told AAP on Tuesday that Slater had been sent an invite in the post just like everyone else in attendance.
Slater also felt Melbourne Victory coaches coaches Jean-Peal de Marigny and Dean Anastasiadis had got off too lightly with four-match bans for their outburst in the wake of Terry Antonis's extra-time semi-final winner over Sydney FC, when de Marigny's hand made contact with David Carney's face.
"Seriously, a coach runs onto the field and slaps a player across the face and gets four games?" he said.
"Mate, where are we going? What message are we sending?
"We're sending out the message that it's OK for a coach to go on and assault a player.
"Forget about what he said and I know, because Graham Arnold is a good friend of mine and he asked Carney what was said … all Carney said was 'can you please show us a bit of respect' when he came on and danced around him.
"I can't repeat what he said to Carney."
AAP
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