December 29, 2008

SYDNEY FC coach John Kosmina claimed Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp deliberately sent him flying with a shoulder charge and threatened to do it again at the Telstra Dome.

Football Federation Australia's match review panel will study footage of Saturday night's incident in the technical area and the big Victory forward could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

Kosmina has still not received an apology from Allsopp.

"I won't get one either because it would be an admission of guilt," Kosmina said on Sunday when the luckless Sydney returned home after their 3-2 defeat.

Kosmina said the pair made eye contact as the players walked off at half-time.

In a startling revelation, Kosmina said Allsopp had said to him, "Do you want me to give you another one?".

"It made me chuckle," Kosmina said.

"I know it could have been avoided. He could have turned out of it. I wasn't hurt when I fell. I was lucky Steve O'Connor and Poppa (Tony Popovic) were behind me (on the bench). I am very disappointed in Danny."

Referee Matthew Breeze took no action.

Former Australia player and Fox Sports commentator Robbie Slater did not think Allsopp's actions were premeditated but said: "He definitely dropped his shoulder into him. He should have been big enough to apologise."

Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick believes Allsopp has no case to answer.

"It was an accidental collision. He (Danny) was unsighted and bumped into his (Kosmina's) direction," Merrick said.

"Danny is a big, gentle giant. Look at his record. He hardly picks up a yellow card."

It is the second time in two years that Kosmina has been involved in controversy against Victory at the Telstra Dome. When he was coaching Adelaide, he was knocked off his chair, also in the technical area, as Kevin Muscat tried to pick up a ball. Kosmina then grabbed Muscat by the throat.

Despite two stunning goals from Sydney's Shannon Cole and Brendan Gan in the opening four minutes, Victory fought back to win one of the thrillers of the season.

Sydney paid a huge price for having defender Beau Busch off the field receiving treatment for a head wound when substitute Ney Fabiano delivered the winner in the 79th minute.

Sydney face an uphill battle to make the finals but Kosmina believes they can knock off leaders Adelaide next Saturday and come home strongly as the troops return.

The FFA panel will also study footage of the after-match melee in Newcastle on Friday, when Central Coast striker Dylan Macallister was red-carded by referee Peter O'Leary for abusive language towards opponents. Jets striker Joel Griffiths could be in hot water again after his confrontation with John Hutchinson.