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‘I’ll kill you’: FFA investigating Adelaide’s coaching blow-up

Football Federation Australia is investigating a heated post-match blow-up that unfolded in the bowels of HBF Park in Perth last Friday night after Adelaide United were knocked out of the A-League finals on penalties.

The Hairdryer understands the incident report compiled by security, which sits with both clubs and FFA, alleges Adelaide goalkeeping coach Frank Juric manhandled a young security guard before barging into the referees room to dish out some verbal abuse.

Dirty Reds: Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz wasn't a happy camper after his side's shootout loss.

Dirty Reds: Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz wasn't a happy camper after his side's shootout loss.Credit:AAP

Another unidentified member of Adelaide's coaching staff is also alleged to have yelled out "I'll kill you" to either the security guard or the officials. FFA is trying to determine who made those remarks and has sent headshots of the coaching staff members to the security firm.

No action will be taken until after the grand final but sanctions look quite possible. Insiders have described it as one of the worst incidents of referee abuse they have come across.

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The Reds were fired up because they believed A-League officials decided on the spot to hold the penalty shootout in front of Perth's active supporters instead of having a coin toss to decide which end to use.

It was actually just a misunderstanding on the part of departing coach Marco Kurz. The penalty protocol had already been stipulated in the event brief for the match and was in the run sheet that was on the door to Adelaide's change rooms, and A-League regulations have stipulated for many years that shootouts are to be held at the northern end of all grounds because that's where Fox set up their additional cameras and microphones for finals matches.

Stressful start

Macarthur FC appear to have nailed their new name, logo and coach, which were all announced at a luncheon on Wednesday attended by around 600 people. But the launch event was sadly marred by a technological failure that meant the video that was to reveal the expansion club's identity was unable to be played.

It left the room hanging in near total darkness for several minutes, and it wasn't for another 40 or so minutes that the issue was resolved.

There were a couple of other unfortunate gaffes, most notably Ante Milicic's name being spelt "Ante Milic" on a PowerPoint slide after the Bulls shocked the room by revealing the current Matildas boss would take on the inaugural coaching job next year after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

It was an inauspicious start to life for Macarthur FC, but the sheer number of people who turned up – and their collective football knowledge and passion – suggests Sydney's third A-League club will be a raging success, once they iron out a few minor creases.

What's in a name?

Sticking with Macarthur FC, the Hairdryer can reveal some of the other potential names that were put forward for consideration for the south west Sydney-based club:

Aston Villawood, Fenerbadgery's Creek, Mintonazionale, Milperrathanaikos, Prairiewoodinese, AC Leumeahlan, Eintracht Fairfield, Perth Englorie Park, Austreal Madrid, Prestons North End, Hajduk Smithfield, Eagle Valencia, Millervski Sofia, Ingleburnley, Borussia Cawdortmund and Tottendenham Court Hotspurs.

This column thought the safest option would have been to just go with Liverpool.

Political football

FFA moved the A-League grand final back a day to avoid going head-to-head with the federal election on Saturday. But for one ex-player, there was no avoiding the claRead More – Source

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