Western Sydney Wanderers have been whacked with a $10,000 fine from Football Australia after owner Paul Lederer was seen berating match officials.
Lederer entered the field of play at fulltime of a 3-3 A-League Men's draw with the Newcastle Jets in February to spray referee Shaun Evans.
Evans had sent two Wanderers players off earlier in the match, a week after Western Sydney had lost a controversy-laden game to Macarthur.
The club's then head coach Marko Rudan had been highly critical of FA and the Australian Professional Leagues following both the Macarthur loss and the Jets draw.
Wanderers fans unfurled a banner during the Jets game reading: "Rudan, leading by example, truth spoken".
"After reviewing all of the available evidence including the club's submission, Football Australia determined that the club breached the code and imposed a sanction of $10,000, of which $5,000 has been suspended," FA said in a statement.
"(It) will be triggered if any club official is found to have breached the code or receive a red card in respect of conduct towards or regarding a match official during the 2024/25 season."
