Brisbane Roar's dramatic 2-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners has been completely overshadowed by a fiery tunnel incident that required police intervention at half-time, with Mariners' interim coach Warren Moon branding the conduct of the Roar's staff an "embarrassment and a disgrace".
A Victory Overshadowed by Tunnel Chaos
The match's defining moment on the pitch came in the 92nd minute, when Brisbane forward Justin Vidic powered home a header to secure a last-gasp win for the home side. However, the wild celebrations that followed were a stark contrast to the ugly scenes that unfolded earlier in the spiteful A-League Men contest.
The drama began to boil over in first-half stoppage time when Roar coach Michael Valkanis was shown a red card for two bookable offences. His first yellow was for antics on the sideline during a heated moment. Upon receiving it, Valkanis gave an ironic round of applause to referee Alex King, an action that immediately earned him a second booking and his marching orders.
The situation escalated significantly after the half-time whistle, when players and staff from both teams engaged in an angry exchange in the tunnel at Kayo Stadium. While the precise details of what triggered the clash and what occurred next remain unclear, Moon revealed the situation deteriorated to the point where police had to be called.
Moon's Scathing Assessment of 'Disgraceful' Conduct
Warren Moon, who has a long history with Queensland football as both a former Roar player and coach, did not mince his words in the aftermath. The 43-year-old interim boss delivered a blunt and damning assessment of the opposition's behaviour.
"Look, I'm just going to be honest and say what I witnessed tonight was a disgrace," Moon told Paramount+. "They're strong words, and I wish them all the best. But that was an embarrassment tonight, what happened before half-time and then half-time in the tunnel."
Moon was reluctant to divulge specific details but offered a cryptic clue, stating, "If someone gets sent off, they obviously have to vacate." He expressed his profound disappointment, particularly emphasising the impact on innocent bystanders.
"I think there's a responsibility to the game and to people," Moon said. "There's volunteers in there that were in the middle of something they didn't deserve to be involved in. The coach was sent off - that's not a player. There's no disadvantage to the playing team. It was a time for cool heads, and the opposite happened, to the point where there was police in the tunnel."
Valkanis Defends Passion and Roar's Identity
In contrast, the dismissed Brisbane coach, Michael Valkanis, said he was surprised to receive the red card and suggested some match officials may have a target on his back. "Sometimes I feel like it was a perfect chance to probably shut me up, because I have voiced my opinion about the VAR and about some decisions," Valkanis stated.
He defended his passionate approach, arguing it is essential for the sport. "The game's about emotion, about passion. If you're going to be a wet fish and not understand that ... what are you doing being part of it?" Valkanis said. "Maybe we need more passion in this league. Maybe that's what's missing."
Valkanis also staunchly defended his team's physical and aggressive style of play, which has been a talking point this season. He made no apologies for the Roar's identity, a brand of football he says has brought the club back to relevance in Brisbane.
"A team that wants to press - a team that wants to win the ball back as soon as possible - cannot do that in a passive way," Valkanis asserted. "What we've got here is a team that wants to fight to win. A lot of people don't like what the Roar are doing... We love it, and we're going to continue fighting the same way."
The incident is likely to be reviewed by Football Australia, with further repercussions possible beyond Valkanis's automatic suspension for his red card. The unsavoury events have undoubtedly cast a long shadow over what was a thrilling, last-minute victory for the Brisbane Roar.
