Due to his criticism of referees, Western Sydney manager Marko Rudan received the longest men’s coaching suspension in the history of the A-League, spanning eight years.

He made insulting or demeaning remarks, declarations, or representations to the public, including through any contribution to any media outlet.

Rudan will serve a three-match ban and a one-game suspension until the end of the 2024–2025 season as a result of the punishment.

It’s the longest punishment since former Adelaide United manager Guillermo Amor’s two-match ban and two-match warning for “intentional contact” with a match official in 2016 came to an end.

Marco Kurz, the coach of Melbourne Victory at the time, received a one-match suspension in 2020 for assaulting an official after a contentious 3-2 loss to Central Coast.

Rudan’s punishments follow FA chairman James Johnson’s pledge on Tuesday to crack down severely on referee abuse.