Saturday evening‘s fiery Sydney derby boiled over after the ultimate whistle in a heated dressing room confrontation between Sydney FC coach Steve Corica and Western Sydney Wanderers star Milos Ninkovic.
Ninkovic, who joined the Wanderers this season after seven years and three A-League championships with the Sky Blues, was marched out of the Sydney change room following their 2-1 Elimination Final win over his Wanderers.
Wanderers coach Mark Rudan mentioned he had not spoken with Ninkovic after the incident however informed reporters: “From my understanding… Milos went in there to congratulate his outdated teammates and their coach didn’t respect him being in there.
“Something occurred between these two which wasn’t nice, which was fairly fiery.”
Wanderers coach, Mark Rudan (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rudan added: “I feel it began within the sport the place I feel their coach mentioned one thing not very good on the sideline to Milos. I feel that’s the place it began. But that’s soccer, this stuff sort of occur.”
Sydney coach Corica mentioned in his post-match press convention: “He simply come to want the gamers all the most effective (and) have an excellent season. So that‘s what he are available in for.”
One reporter identified that Ninkovic seemed to be escorted out of the dressing room, with Corica remarking: “Well, he‘s simply upset, clearly, shedding the sport.”
“Listen, he come to want the gamers all the most effective for the rest of the season. You know, we’ve got points with him, clearly, however that‘s all. That’s between me and him.”
Milos Ninkovic of the Wanderers and Luke Brattan of Sydney FC (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ninkovic received three A-League championships and premierships plus an FFA Cup in his seven seasons with the Sky Blues, with the Serbian worldwide scoring 41 occasions in 221 appearances earlier than his shock swap to the opposite aspect of the Sydney divide.
That ugly exit was marked by an unpleasant collection of claims and counterclaims across the failed negotiations for a one-year contract extension provide from Sydney.
The 38-year-old has claimed that Sydney’s provide was contingent on the Serbian gaining his Australian citizenship earlier than the season began (Ninkovic handed his citizenship take a look at nicely earlier than that deadline, however was solely formally made an Australian citizen on Australia Day this yr).
Sydney FC’s personal allegation is that Ninkovic informed Corica he might play simply “20 or 30” minutes off the bench every week – one thing the participant has firmly denied.
“He’s the enemy now,” Corica mentioned again in November. “We must deal with him that method. It’s going to be hostile for Ninko. The followers cherished him.”
There was actually no love misplaced on the sector, with Ninkovic consistently hassled and harried by his ex-teammates all through the sport, and the midfielder largely saved quiet by Luke Brattan.
Ninkovic was substituted halfway by the second half after selecting up a yellow card, with the Wanderers collapsing to a 2-1 defeat after main by a penalty late within the first half.
