At a lunch for Football Queensland, Shield reportedly insisted Corica "had to go off" after his studs-up high challenge on Victory's Steve Pantelidis.

Corica was banned for two matches for the tackle and he and Sydney coach Branko Culina were fined by the FFA for questioning the decision after the match.

"At the end of the day referees are paid to do a job and we've got to uphold the laws of the game," Shield is said to have told the lunch meeting yesterday.

Shield was pelted with plastic bottles and beer cups at full-time after Victory's 1-0 win saw eight yellow cards as well as Corica's red dished out.

Fans and the media have questioned Shield's handling of the game but the whistleblower shrugged off the criticism.

"Referees are under more scrutiny and in some cases that's just part of the game," he said.

"The games are very tough and it gets tougher."

He added that it was "unfortunate" that he had been subjected to the onslaught from the angry mob of fans as he ran down the tunnel.

But he added "that happens in all sports."

However he said: "It does happen, no one likes it to happen, and I'm certainly not condoning that behaviour in any way, shape or form."