Comment has been sought from NSW police.
Roar coach Michael Valkanis walks up the tunnel after receiving a second yellow card in Gosford on New Year’s Eve.Credit: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images
Valkanis was booked in first-half stoppage time for his behaviour on the sideline. When Valkanis sarcastically clapped at referee Alex King upon receiving his first yellow, he received his second, leading to red being shown.
After the match, he said he was surprised to see red.
“Sometimes I feel like it was a perfect chance to probably shut me up because I have voiced my opinion about the and about some decisions,” he said in a media conference.
“I’ve said it before that sometimes the referees feel good giving a card to me. That’s OK, it’s not going to stop who I am because the game’s about emotion. The game is about passion.
“And if you’re going to be a wet fish and not understand that while the game’s going on, what are you doing being part of it? Maybe we need more passion in this league.
“Maybe that’s what’s missing.”
Moon did not hold back on his former club, which he said he had been associated with “proudly” for more than 20 years.
“That was an embarrassment tonight, what happened before half-time and then half-time in the tunnel,” he said.
“… If someone gets sent off, they obviously have to vacate.
“I’m not going to go into the details, except to say I’m really disappointed with what I saw from the conduct of the opposition staff tonight.”
Moon said he was sure what he had seen would “come out in the wash-up”.
With Valkanis sent to the stands for the second half, Roar’s assistant coach, Borja Lema, took charge of the Queenslanders.
The match looked set to end in a 1-1 draw, until a pass from James O’Shea in the second minute of stoppage time found Justin Vidic at the far post, who headed the ball past ex-Socceroo goalkeeper, and honorary “Grey Wiggle”, Andrew Redmayne.
