A-League and W-League chief Greg O’Rourke is looking for new rules to be implemented as Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold instructed two of his players to deliberately accumulate yellow cards.
In Sydney’s 3-0 win over Melbourne City last Saturday, the microphones picked up on Arnold instructing Josh Brillante and Brandon O’Neill to get yellow cards so they would serve suspensions before finals.
Both players were one yellow card shy of suspension as O’Neill was booked for time-wasting in the 72nd minute and Brillante was pulled up for a challenge on Bruce Kamau six minutes later.
O’Rourke said this morning he would be in discussions with FFA's integrity unit but were not prepared to “retrospectively take any action” as Arnold’s antics did officially breach A-League regulations.
“Disappointed that we have coaches out there overtly calling for their players to commit fouls,” O’Rourke said.
“FFA has an integrity unit and will be looking at the rules around this. This is not the first time, not just in the A-League but across the world of football this happens.
“Other leagues have taken a step through their integrity units to actually include specific rules that sanction this behaviour. We don’t currently have those, but we’ll be looking to do that.
“I’ve been talking to the head of integrity unit of FFA and we’re discussing what we shall do for future seasons.”
Sydney officially claimed top-spot a fortnight ago and are currently 17 points in front of second-placed Melbourne Victory with two games remaining.
The Sky Blues travel abroad to face Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.
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