Culina was penalised for speaking his mind after losing 1--0 to Wellington Phoenix at home last weekend, a result which left the Jets second bottom on the ladder, but just four points outside the finals.

But Culina admitted frankly: "We are only a finals team because all the teams around us are pretty shit as well."

The FFA didn't see the joke and demanded an explanation from Culina before today handing down the $3,000 fine for breaching the National Code Of Conduct and bringing the game into disrepute.