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Update: Rockdale Ilinden FC v Sydney United 58 FC Incident

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Football NSW would like to provide the following update in respect of the incidents which arose during and after the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s (NPLNSW) match between Rockdale Ilinden FC (RIFC) and Sydney United 58 FC (SUFC) at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on 25 April 2021.

After an extensive investigation into those incidents, Football NSW laid a number of charges against both clubs for alleged breaches of the Football NSW Grievance and Disciplinary Regulations (Regulations).

Those charges related to incidents which occurred during the game and inside the ground, as well as the post-match riot between spectators of both clubs.

Those charges were heard before the Football NSW General Purposes Tribunal (GPT) on 19 July 2021 and the GPT released its determination on 10 August 2021.

By way of summary, both clubs were found guilty of a number of offences, including for conduct that brings the game into disrepute in relation to the involvement of their spectators in the post-match riot, and were issued with the following overall sanctions:

Rockdale Ilinden FC:

  1. $11,500 in fines payable immediately and the loss of 6 Premiership Points in the 2021 season; and
  2. $6,000 in fines and loss of 6 Premiership Points (both suspended, with the suspension triggered upon a finding of guilt for contravention of specified offences during the 2022 season).

Sydney United 58 FC:

  1. $11,000 in fines payable immediately and the loss of 6 Premiership Points in the 2021 season; and
  2. $9,000 in fines and loss of 6 Premiership Points (both suspended, with the suspension triggered upon a finding of guilt for contravention of specified offences during the 2022 season).

In addition to the above sanctions, for the duration of the 2021 season and for the entirety of the 2022 season, all NPL and any FA Cup matches between the two clubs must be played behind closed doors.

The difference in the amount of the fines payable by the clubs is due to the fact that not all of their charges in respect of incidents within the ground were identical.  Both clubs received identical penalties in respect of the post-match riot.

Both clubs have seven days within which to appeal the GPT’s determination.

If neither club has lodged an appeal within that period, Football NSW will publish a copy of the GPT’s determination on its website.

Football NSW commends both clubs for the assistance they provided to NSW Police and to Football NSW during their respective investigations, for the way they conducted themselves during the GPT proceedings and for the pro-active steps taken since these incidents occurred.

We take this opportunity to remind all of our stakeholders that Football NSW has a zero tolerance policy towards violent behaviour.

The sanctions imposed are a reflection of how seriously Football NSW treats such incidents.

Stamatellis Happy to be Part of Rock-Solid Community

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It’s been a great year for one of the NPL NSW Men’s experienced defenders in Mitchell Stamatellis, especially with the birth of his son Bodhi, and while he’s relishing a break from football to enjoy time with his family, he’s hoping the close-knit Rockdale Ilinden squad can get back together soon.

“It has been a good year, especially with the birth of my little boy at the start of the year – I think that’s made it,” he explained.

“I think it’s been an up and down year for us at Rockdale… especially with COVID coming back.

“We thought things were getting a little bit better and then there’s been another lockdown, I think it’s definitely been a little bit of a rollercoaster.”

Despite being apart, the close-knit Rockdale community is still supporting one another off the pitch.

“We’ve got a really strong group at Rockdale and we’re really close.

“I think the coaching staff is really supportive, they’re always there to lend a hand and be an ear if we need them.

“Steve [Zoric] sent a message the other day, just saying he would get in touch with each and every one of us individually and make sure we’re going ok.

“It’s a really close community and club and a very supportive network which is good, and all the boys are always willing to talk to each other if anyone needs anything, and they’re all aware of that, so I’m very happy to be at Rockdale, especially considering the circumstances.”

While the stay-at-home restrictions have dampened Rockdale’s effort to turn around their recent struggles, Stamatellis is certainly making the most of his extra time to enjoy time with his wife and six-month-old son.

“It’s just good to spend a bit more time at home with the little guy.

“He’s six months old now so he’s smiling, he’s laughing, he’s a lot more interactive so as a dad it’s a lot more fun, I can do a lot more and I’m really enjoying the time that I’m spending at home with him.”

Looking forward to the return of football after lockdown, Rockdale certainly have high ambitions.

“Win the grand final, that’s our goal.

“We were a bit unlucky to lose on penalties last year, so we do want to go one better and win the grand final this year.

“To turn the recent results around, head in the right direction and come back with a championship is definitely our goal.”

-By Madeline Riley

 

 

APIA thwarted by late Urosevski strike

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Rockdale Ilinden FC has returned to winning ways after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over APIA Leichardt at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.

A missed penalty from APIA skipper Sean Symons just moments before halftime haunted the home side as an 87th-minute goal from Alec Urosevski earned the visitors a crucial three points away from home.

It was a tense match between the two sides as they battled for an important three points in the closing stages of the NPL New South Wales Men’s competition.

While both sides enjoyed their share of chances in the opening stages of the first stanza, a penalty just before the break was the defining moment of the first 45.

Referee Kurt Ams pointed to the spot in the 46th minute as APIA Leichardt’s Sam McIlhatton was pulled down in the area.

Sean Symons stepped up to take the penalty for the home side, but Rockdale’s custodian David Bradasevic managed to read the penalty well and palmed Symons’ shot.

Bradasevic’s expert save fell back to the feet of Symons, who fumbled over it before releasing a second effort, which was cleared by Rockdale’s defensive line leaving the score at 0-0 at the half-time break much to the dismay of the local APIA supporters who braved the cold and rainy conditions in Sydney’s Inner West.

The defensive stability of both teams was tested in the second stanza, with both keepers managing some quality saves to keep the game goalless.

Tomoki Wada looked poised to take the lead for Rockdale in the 73rd minute, however, his effort was stopped by Ivan Necevski.

Urosevski managed to get on the end of Necevski’s save, but his strike soared high over the crossbar.

The visitors continued to mount pressure on the home side, with their efforts paying off in the 87th minute.

Antoniou played a ball to Urosevski in a dangerous position in front of goal, and the striker clinically finished, sending his shot past Necevski to score the first and only goal of the match.

APIA Leichardt continued to push for an equaliser in the final stages of the game, however it wouldn’t come to fruition, with the game finishing 1-0 to the visitors.

Rockdale coach Steve Zoric was pleased his team was able to execute their game plan and take three points from the match.

“I felt like it was a tight game,” he explained.

“Probably a goal that we deserved in the end, I would say.”

“It’s been a tough time for us, so we’ve just got to now carry on.”

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results in the FFA Cup but it came to fruition tonight and I just hope that we can continue that now going forward.”

APIA Leichardt Coach Paul Dee praised his team’s effort despite the result.

“I think our guys did well to put a lot of pressure on and hold good field position and create chances,” he said.

“I think we play a high tempo, and we are aggressive in our press, and we roll up and try and dominate teams in their half, so I just want to maintain the effort.

“We’ve got the Waratah Cup, we’ve got the FFA Cup, and we’ll keep going whilst we’re still a chance in the league and try to get as many points as we can.”

APIA will take on the Wollongong Wolves this coming Wednesday at Macedonia Park in the Waratah Cup Elimination Final at 7:30pm with the winner to host Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the Semi-Final. The match will be shown Live on Football NSW’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Match Stats

APIA-Leichhardt 0

Rockdale Ilinden FC 1 (Alec Urosevski 87’)

Sunday 20th June, 2021

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: Kurt Ams

Assistant Referees: L. Greenshields and M. Price

Fourth Official: A. Bloch

APIA-Leichhardt: 1. Ivan Necevski, 2. William Mutch, 4. Josh Symons, (6. Harry Callahan (21. Michael Kouta 75’), 8. Corey Biczo (9. Blake Powell 56’), 11. Matthieu Cordier, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino (10. Franco Parisi 75’), 19. Peter Kekeris, 20. Sam Mcilhatton

Substitutes Not Used: 7. Tynan Diaz

Yellow Cards: Corey Biczo 31’, Sean Symons 66’

Red Cards: Nil

Rockdale Ilinden FC: 1. David Bradasevic, 3. Michael Neill, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Daniel Araujo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 8. Tomoki Wada, 9. Bai Antoniou, 14. Brayden Sorge, 15. Mitchell Stamatellis, 16. Mohamed Ahmed (19. Patrick Savor 72’), 11. Samuel Gulisano (10. Marie Gauthier 63’)

Substitutes Not Used: 13. Zac Sfiligoi, 22. Enrol Ordonez Suarez, 24. Jayden Anevski, 38. Jad Moussa

Yellow Cards: Daniel Araujo 76’

Red Cards: Nil

By Football NSW Reporter Madeline Riley (@madelineriley23)

 

 

 

 

 

Major dismantles out of sorts Ilinden

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A Travis Major hat-trick has helped Blacktown City stretch their lead at the top of the ladder with a 4-2 win against reigning premiers Rockdale Ilinden at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

Blacktown City’s star striker couldn’t be stopped after opening his account from the penalty spot before netting twice more after the interval.

It was City’s day with the visitors opening the scoring after only three minutes before Major found his scoring touch ten minutes from the interval.

Rockdale’s Zac Sfiligoi was able to keep Rockdale in the contest early when he scored a 10th minute equaliser, however by the time Gauthier scored the home side’s second in the 86th minute the match was already lost.

The result cement’s Blacktown’s position on top of the competition ladder for another week, while Rockdale fall further behind in their premiership defence.

The match had an explosive start when  Carlos De Oliveria opened the scoring for Blacktown City after Caleb Jackson Brown pinched the ball off a unexpecting Tomoki Wada only three minutes in.

Sfiligoi returned fire in the 9th minute with a long range effort that Tristan Prendergast failed to deal with after slipping through his hands and dropping over the line to level the scores.

The frenetic pace couldn’t continue and a tense midfield chess match ensued, each probing for an opening but ultimately broken up by the defensive units.

City found were gifted a chance to take the lead when Mario Shabow was felled in the Ilinden box by Banri Kanaizumi. Major stepped up to wrong foot David Bradasevic and coolly slot home from the spot to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage at the interval.

Rockdale rang the changes with Mick Neill replacing Sam Gullisano and started brightly when Alec Urosevski broke down the left into the area but unable to find Bai Antoniou with his centre.

However, it was a long ball out from Prendergast that found Major on the left and a powerful run into the box and lob over Bradasevic to extended City’s lead to 3-1 in the 51st minute.

The reaction was a heightened response from the home side, if that were possible, and further added to the unfolding drama being played out.

Bradasevic pulled off a point blank save, one from a catalogue of classy stops, from a Campbell header while Urosevski was unlucky at the other end after spinning in the box before send his shot wide.

Shabow and De Oliviera linked up well on the right resulting in a Shabow shot flashing across the face, before Major found Matthew Lewis in space but he snatched at the shot and sent it wide of the upright.

Blacktown was increasingly finding space in behind with Rockdale forced into pushing on to get back into the match.

Major completed his hat-trick six minutes from time with a thunderous shot into the roof of the net to put the result beyond doubt.

Not even a late consolation goal to substitute Amaury Gauthier could take the gloss off a very pleasing performance from Blacktown.

Rockdale coach Steve Zoric said his side was their own worst enemy.

“Individual errors have cost us today, which is disappointing,” he said.

“We had to chase the game which then allowed them room to counter after they slipped back into a 5-4-1 formation and sitting deep which they are very good at when they go ahead.

“Once they get their noses in front they are a very dangerous side to break down because they will counter-attack you all day and they are pretty smart at it.

“It’s very hard to draw them out and we had to try and force the pace and made it very difficult for ourselves.

“We now have to look to our game on Wednesday night against Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the FFA Cup and look to put things right.”

A very pleased Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was understanably jubilant after the game.

“This is always a tough place to come and you need to set up well and we did that today,” he said.

“We gave them a bit of a sniff with a very rare mistake from Tristan (Prendergast) but we felt very confident coming here today. We brought young Caleb (Jackson Brown) into the side for his debut and I felt he was outstanding today.

“The young boys are getting their chance in the side, something we’ve never been afraid of at Blacktown as we believe if you’re good enough you’re old enough, and they are doing the business for us.

“Very happy today as it’s not often you can come here and walk away after scoring four times.”

Match Stats

Rockdale Ilinden 2 (Sfiligoi 9’, Gauthier 86’)

Blacktown City 4 (De Oliviera 3’, Major 32’, 51’, 84’)

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Sunday, 13th June 2021

Referee: Stephen Lucas

Assistant. Referees: Joon Park & Amir Hosnani

Fourth Official: Ivica Covic

Rockdale Ilinden: 1.David BRADASEVIC, 5.Banri KANAIZUMI, 6.Daniel ARAUJO, 7.Alec UROSEVSKI, 8.Tomaki WADA (23.Jordan FIGON 68’), 9.Bai ANTONIOU, 11.Samuel GULISANO (3.Michael NEILL 46), 13.Zac SFILIGOI (10.Amaury GAUTHIER 57’), 14.Brayden SORGE, 16.Mohamed AHMED, 19.Patrick SAVOR,

Substitutes not used: 22.Enrol Ordonez SUAREZ, 43.Mohamed HANDACHE, 45.James NIKOLOVSKI

Yellow Cards: Araujo 42, Savor 53, Ahmed 75’

Red Cards: Nil

Blacktown City: 1.Tristan PRENDERGAST, 3.Daniel COLLINS, 4.Lachlan CAMPBELL, 5.Grant LYNCH, 6.Matthew LEWIS, 7.Travis MAJOR (9.Sean ROONEY 88’), 10.Mario SHABOW (18.Suleyman BANGURA 70’), 14.Caleb JACKSON BROWN,  22.Carlos DE OLIVEIRA (11.Rhett DESILVA 78’), 24.Jackson BANDIERA, 29.Nicholas O’BRIEN

Substitutes not used: 20.Dylan NISKI, 16.Ben BERRY, 26.Tyler BIRNIE

Yellow Cards: Campbell 43, Bangura 90+2

Red Cards: Nil

By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Micky Brock     

Ilinden no match for clinical Manly

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A clinical Manly United performance secured Adam Griffiths’ troops a vital three points in the race for finals football with a 3-0 victory over a wasteful Rockdale Illinden at Cromer Park on Friday night.

Despite Rockdale enjoying their fair share of dominance, the home side established a two-goal buffer at the break thanks to a Dejan Pandurevic penalty and well-struck Luca Kmet effort, before putting the result beyond doubt late on through fullback Kieren Paull.

In a frenetic opening 15 minutes, there was goalmouth action at both ends.

The first sight on goal arrived for Steve Zoric’s men, as the Manly defence backed off Tomoki Wada, allowing him to curl a strike wide of the mark.

But despite Rockdale appearing the more likely early on, they would find themselves behind after 13 minutes after speedster Ben Gibson latched onto a through ball in the area and was brought to ground by David Bradasevic.

Manly’s top scorer Pandurevic took on penalty duties and snuck his spot-kick under the outstretched Rockdale shot-stopper, registering his third goal in as many games and granting the home side an early advantage.

Rockdale nearly found a quick-fire equaliser as Sam Gulisano fired a dangerous effort narrowly over the bar. Then less than four minutes after Manly found their first, they struck their second in spectacular fashion.

A corner was cleared directly into the path of Luca Kmet, who from the edge of the area, powered home his first goal of the season into the top corner.

Despite falling behind, the chances continued to stack up for Rockdale and if it were not for the heroics of Sam Benton on the half-time mark, Manly’s lead would have been halved as Gulisano’s well-struck free kick was impressively kept out.

The second half commenced like the first: with Rockdale on the offensive as Michael Neill and Patrick Savor steered efforts wide.

On the hour mark, Pandurevic nearly found his second of the evening as he glanced a header wide by the narrowest of margins.

In the 62nd and 65th minutes, Benton stood tall again with a pair of stunning stops.

The first was a strong palm to deny Jordan Figon at the front post, before moments later he diverted Alec Urosevski’s shot that was destined for the bottom corner.

Bai Antoniou then blazed a 69th minute strike over the bar and is beginning to look as though it would not be Rockdale’s night.

Adam Griffiths’ outfit had late chances to put the game to bed through substitute Sam Gallagher and Kmet, but they would not be made to pay as Rockdale were left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal.

Then to add further insight to the away side, Manly strung together a well-orchestrated attack which resulted in fullback Kieren Paull cooly slotting home their third inside the final ten minutes.

The result helped Manly into fourth and within one point of their opponents, who were kept scoreless in consecutive games and suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.

The loss of Kyle Cimenti to the A-League with Macarthur FC has seen the Ilinden strike-force lose its spark slightly but the 2020 Premiers are hoping that better things will come following this tough loss at the Northern Beaches.

Post-game, goalscorer Dejan Pandurevic was pleased with how his side pulled off an important victory.

“We came out from the very first minute, executed the game plan,” he said.

“We got our goals early and kept pressure on them for the whole game. That’s exactly what we’ve been working on the last few weeks, we’ve been doing very well against team but just slipping up in one or two moments.

“But we executed everything perfectly tonight.”

On the other hand, Steve Zoric spoke in detail with his squad post-game in an attempt to re-instil their confidence moving forward.

“There’s a trend happening where we’re conceding early,” he said.

“We’re not scoring, it’s pretty much for the first time in the two years we haven’t scored a goal for two games in a row.

“We’re struggling to put our chances away now after banging them in for fun before, and we were keeping clean sheets for a long period of time.

“We’ve got a lot to work on, now we’re locked in a top three battle – we’ve let other teams into the race so now we have a lot of hard work to get us through.”

Match Stats

Manly United FC: 3 (Pandurevic 13’, Kmet 16’, Paull 82’)

Rockdale Illinden: 0

Friday, 4 June 2021

Cromer Park, Dee Why

Referee: Katie Patterson

Assistant Referees: H. Fenton-White, L. Jones

Fourth official: I. Covic

Manly United FC: 19. Sam Benton, 2. Kieren Paull, 15. Jesse Piriz, 4. Jimmy Oates, 16. Seiya Kambayashi, 3. James Georgaklis, 24. Finn Ashton (5. Sam Gallagher 68’), 12. Luca Kmet (13. Scott Balderson 86’), 10. Richie Cardozo (23. Jordan Devries 63’), 14. Dejan Pandurevic, 31. Ben Gibson (7. Jack Fulton 86’)

Substitutes not used: 1. Jacob Madden, 18. Lucas Rainbird

Yellow cards: Ashton 56’  

Red cards: Nil

Rockdale Ilinden: 1. David Bradasevic, 3. Michael Neill, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Daniel Araujo, 7. Alec Urosevski, 8. Tomoki Wada, 9. Bai Antoniou (16. Mohamed Ahmed 71’), 11. Samuel Gulisano (80’ 13. Zac Sfiligoi), 23. Jordan Figon (10. Amaury Gauthier 66’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 19. Patrick Savor

Substitutes not used: 22. Enrol Ordonez Suarez, 45. James Nikolovski

Yellow cards: Gulisano 59’

Red cards: Nil

–  By Football NSW reporter and commentator Chris Curulli (Twitter handle @ChrisCurulli)