Macarthur coach Mile Sterjovski is urging the A-League's referees to protect the competition's star players better, claiming Melbourne Victory targeted Ulises Davila physically in the sides' 1-1 draw.
But Victory boss Tony Popovic denies his players paid extra attention to the Bulls captain on the way to securing a 95th-minute equaliser in Campbelltown.
Victory players were twice shown yellow cards on Friday for challenges on Davila, who has returned to play this season after a knee injury ended his last campaign prematurely.
Damien Da Silva took the forward out as the Bulls were on the attack late in the first half, before recruit Adama Traore hit him high with his boot in the second.
Traore had swung a foot out towards the ball but hit Davila instead and was given his marching orders with a second yellow in the 62nd minute.
"I can see why he's given it," Popovic said of the second booking.
A former Mexican youth international once signed with Chelsea, Davila is integral to the Bulls' attack and Sterjovski did not believe the repeated challenges were coincidental.
"I mentioned that to the fourth official during the game. I think he was targeted five or six times," the coach said.
"Players of his calibre need to be protected so I definitely mentioned that and hope it gets reviewed."
But Sterjovski's former Socceroos teammate Popovic refuted suggestions Davila had been targeted.
"I didn't think he got extra attention," he said of the striker who set up the opening goal for Matthew Millar in the 12th minute, only for the Bulls to be deprived of the win with a 94th minute Yianni Nicolaou own goal.
"If our challenges were a bit late, it wasn't malicious, it was because (he's) a good player and maybe we didn't quite get there.
"That can happen with a player like him where he's on the ball, he's got the quality. He's a fantastic footballer."
Popovic said Traore's red card proved that any alleged plan to target the rival skipper had misfired anyway.
"We played with 10 for the last half-an-hour, so it didn't quite go our way if that's what we did to Davila," he said.
Davila's long-term knee injury followed the sudden death of his wife in May 2022 and the skipper's resilience has helped drive the Bulls on their resurgence this season.
Macarthur have not lost since Davila returned to play, sitting second on the ladder with two wins and three draws.
"When we feel like we're having a difficult day, we think about what he's been through and how he powers on. He's an inspiration," Sterjovski said.
"I would say he's getting close to his best again after his injury that he sustained last year. It took him a little while to get back but I think he's showing what he's capable of."
