Culina berated referee Mark Shield after a string of bookings and the dismissal of Sydney's Steve Corica for a high tackle on Victory's Steve Pantelidis.

Shield had to be given a police escort off the pitch and was pelted with plastic bottles and beer glasses as he went down the tunnel.

After the game, Sydney coach Culina joked that he refused to comment on the ref's performance because he couldn't afford the fine.

But he added: "If a referee is escorted by police at the end of the game, you can make your own mind up about whether he's had a good game or not."

Now though he has been made to pay for his remarks with an undisclosed fine by the FFA for his comments.

"Sydney FC Head Coach Branko Culina has been fined for breaching the Hyundai A-League Code of Conduct," said an FFA statement today.

"The undisclosed fine is in relation to disparaging remarks that Branko Culina made towards the Referee Mark Shield at the completion of the match as well as comments Culina made to the media regarding the performance of the match officials."