Police step in at Roar v Mariners after half-time clash in A-League Men game

Central Coast interim coach Warren Moon has labelled the conduct of Brisbane’s staff an embarrassment and a disgrace, revealing even police had to get involved at half-time of the Roar’s drama-filled 2-1 win.

Brisbane forward Justin Vidic headed home a 92nd-minute winner to spark wild celebrations, but it was the drama earlier in the A-League Men match that stole all the headlines.

Roar coach, Michael Valkanis, was handed a red card for two bookable offences in first-half stoppage time.

His first yellow card was for his antics on the sidelines during a heated moment of the match.

The veteran coach gave an ironic applause to referee Alex King upon receiving the first yellow, with the action immediately earning him another booking and subsequent red card.

There was even more drama after the half-time whistle when players and staff from both sides engaged in an angry exchange in the tunnel.

What exactly happened – and what happened next – remains unclear, but Moon revealed police had to get called in.

Moon has a long history with Queensland football, having featured for the Roar during his playing career before coaching the side for several seasons.

The 43-year-old didn’t hold back when talking about the conduct of Brisbane’s coaching staff on Wednesday night.

“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.”

“Look, I’m not going to go into the details, except to say I’m really disappointed what I saw from the conduct of the opposition staff tonight. I’m sure it will come out in the wash up.

“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 during half-time.

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

Valkanis said he was surprised to receive a red card, and insinuated some referees may have it in for him.

“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 said.

“I’ve said it before, sometimes the referees feel good giving a card to me. That’s OK. It’s not going to stop who I am.

“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?

“Maybe we need more passion in this league. Maybe that’s what’s missing. We’ve become very robotic, and everyone just plays the same way, talks the same way.”

Brisbane’s physicality has been a big talking point this season, but Valkanis made no excuses for the way his team plays.

“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,” he said.

“What we’ve got here is a team that wants to fight to win.