Tussle in the tunnel: Roar threatens legal action against former coach

Brisbane Roar has threatened its former coach with legal action after comments made after a fiery New Year’s Eve clash in Gosford.

Current Roar coach Michael Valkanis was sent off in the first half of their 2-1 stoppage time win over the Central Coast Mariners, which led to an altercation in the players’ tunnel that his counterpart, Warren Moon, said was a “disgrace” from his old club.

Interim Mariners coach Moon, who was a foundation player for the Roar and coached the team between 2020 and 2023, had choice words for the Roar staff.

“What I witnessed tonight was a disgrace,” he told broadcaster Paramount+ in a post-match interview.

“It was a time for cool heads, and the opposite happened, to the point where there was police in the tunnel during half-time.

“I’m quite bemused by it all, to be perfectly honest.”

Moon did not hold back on his former club, which he said he had been “proudly” associated with 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”.

In a statement issued by the Roar on Thursday, a club spokesperson said Moon’s comments about police involvement were “misleading”.

“Police were already present at the venue as part of routine match‑day operations, and no conduct by Brisbane Roar Football Club or its personnel required police intervention,” the spokesperson said.

“Senior figures within the game have a responsibility to ensure that public commentary is accurate, fair, and does not make or imply serious allegations without foundation. That standard was not met on this occasion.

“Given the seriousness of the insinuations made and the reputational harm caused to the club, Brisbane Roar Football Club is seeking legal advice in relation to the comments made by the opposing interim head coach, and is considering all available options.”

A NSW police spokeswoman said: “The matter was dealt with by A-League officials. Police were not involved.”

In a sign that the Ange Postecoglou “Roarcelona” days had been consigned to the past, Valkanis defended his side’s new tough-and-rough style, insisting it was instilling a winners’ mentality to a club that has struggled for more than a decade to reach its former heights.

“We want to behave like winners, and we train like winners, and we find a way every single time together to work hard and to get three points and to bring out that Queensland spirit,” he said. “Because if we have a look at the Queenslanders, that’s what they’re really all about.”

Valkanis was booked in first-half stoppage time for his behaviour on the sideline. When he 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 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.”

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. He headed the ball past ex-Socceroo goalkeeper, and honorary “Grey Wiggle”, Andrew Redmayne.

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