Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic likened the ambiance throughout his aspect’s 1-0 loss to Western United at AAMI Park to that of a match performed when Covid-19 restrictions prevented followers attending.
No Victory followers or members had been allowed within the floor on Monday night time as a part of the membership’s sanctions for the pitch invasion on the similar venue on December 17.
With United having solely a small supporter base, the official crowd determine was solely 2867, and that determine appeared barely inflated when contemplating the variety of empty seats within the stadium.
“It’s different,” Popovic stated.
“The players were out there. I wasn’t, but it felt like some of those games that you played with the Covid restrictions.
“It is what it is for us at the moment, and we can’t use that as an excuse for what happened out there.
“We’ve got to look to be better.”
Popovic stated the Victory would “deal with” any additional sanctions Football Australia probably slapped on them as investigations proceed into the disgraceful Melbourne derby incident.
“We’ll deal with whatever comes up, I’d like to think that what we’re seeing so far is pretty heavy sanctions as it is, (but) if they think we need more, then we’ll have to deal with it,” he stated.
Popovic was left to lament his aspect’s failure to profit from its one-man benefit following the first-half dismissal of Western United defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
“We didn’t do enough to break down 10 men, They set very deep and defended well. It’s what they do,” the Victory coach stated.
However, he was adamant his aspect ought to have been awarded a free-kick for a “clear offside” offence within the build-up to the nook that United scored from through a Josh Risdon header.
“It’s three metres offside before the corner. It’s not close. It’s so far offside that I’m not really sure what we have to do now,” Popovic stated.
“When a player runs with the ball into the box do we just get out of the way and say ‘let’s take a chance’?
“If he shoots and scores, the VAR will intervene. He’s running towards goal. That’s a goal-scoring opportunity. The VAR must intervene.
“They can’t say it’s not a goal-scoring opportunity. It is because he’s running towards goal.
“Now they’ll tell us different, and I’m sure the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) will come out and put another video and try to tell me how I’m wrong again … but that’s a clear offside and a poor decision, very poor.”
Originally printed as Absence of Melbourne Victory supporters ensures small crowd at AAMI Park
