Steve Corica Absen Dampingi Auckland FC Akibat Sanksi Larangan Bertanding

Pelatih kepala Auckland FC Steve Corica dipastikan absen mendampingi timnya saat menghadapi Central Coast Mariners pada Minggu, 19 April 2026, setelah dijatuhi sanksi larangan satu pertandingan oleh panel peninjau laga A-League.

Hukuman ini menyusul kartu merah yang diterima Corica pada menit ke-88 saat timnya bermain imbang 2-2 melawan Melbourne Victory di Stadion Go Media akhir pekan lalu akibat protes keras terhadap ofisial pertandingan. Asisten pelatih Danny Hay dilaporkan akan memimpin tim di pinggir lapangan dalam laga krusial perebutan posisi puncak klasemen tersebut.

Melalui asistennya, terungkap bahwa tindakan Corica dipicu oleh akumulasi kekecewaan terhadap keputusan wasit yang dianggap merugikan tim selama jalannya pertandingan.

"That red card has probably been building up for some time," kata Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Hay menjelaskan bahwa emosi tersebut memuncak ketika beberapa pelanggaran yang terlihat jelas di tayangan ulang justru diabaikan oleh wasit di lapangan.

"And today, when … what we think, and when you look at the replays, are blatant fouls, and they're not being given, I think, the frustration just boiled over," ujar Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Pihak klub merasa berada dalam posisi menyerang, namun keputusan-keputusan wasit dinilai menghambat momentum mereka untuk memenangkan pertandingan.

"We felt like we were in ascendancy and when you don't get those calls, you know, sometimes you're highly disappointed," jelas Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Hay juga menyoroti taktik mengulur waktu dari kubu lawan pada babak kedua yang dibiarkan oleh ofisial pertandingan.

"If you're being very blunt about it, poor first half, really disappointing first half, the way we started the game, the manner of the goal we conceded. Steve obviously wasn't happy, really made that quite clear at half-time," papar Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Meskipun kecewa dengan hasil paruh pertama, Hay memberikan pujian khusus kepada pemain muda Van Fitzharris yang menjalani debutnya di liga.

"Young Van Fitzharris, I thought, was sensational. And, you know, it's a big part of what this club is about and meant to be about, and that is providing opportunities for young Kiwis. So it was beautiful to see," ungkap Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Baginya, Fitzharris merupakan salah satu talenta muda paling menarik yang pernah ia lihat di panggung sebesar A-League.

"He's one of the best I've seen. Obviously, only very early days, but he's an exciting young talent," tambah Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Hay menekankan pentingnya performa tersebut mengingat tekanan besar dalam persaingan melawan tim-tim papan atas di akhir musim.

"And I think he showed that on what is a massive stage. You've got to put in context the stage of the season, what's on the line for us against a top, top side. And for me, he was, even though he only played 40-odd minutes, he was a standout," lanjut Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Terkait kondisi tim, Hay mengonfirmasi absennya bek Jake Girdwood-Reich karena sakit serta cedera bahu yang dialami Nando Pijnaker.

"Whether he's dislocated or jarred it, I'm not 100% sure," tutur Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Klub masih menunggu hasil pemindaian medis untuk menentukan durasi absennya bek tim nasional Selandia Baru tersebut.

"Hopefully, this is not a setback that's going to hold him back too long," harap Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Di sisi lain, kehadiran Michael Woud di bangku cadangan meskipun mengalami cedera selangkangan dipuji sebagai bentuk dedikasi pemain terhadap tim.

"He wasn't at the point where he could start the game (against Victory), but if absolutely needed, could he come on and do a job for us? Yes," tegas Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Keputusan menyertakan Woud diambil untuk menghindari risiko menurunkan kiper yang terlalu muda dalam pertandingan dengan tensi tinggi.

"Hence why we thought having Michael on the bench, rather than exposing another really young goalkeeper in a big game like that, probably wasn't the right thing to do," terang Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Sikap tersebut dinilai mencerminkan karakter kuat Woud sebagai pemain profesional yang mengutamakan kepentingan kolektif.

"So Michael stepped up. And I think that says a lot about his character as a person as well. The fact that he was prepared to do that for the team," kata Danny Hay, Asisten Pelatih Auckland FC.

Sementara itu, Steve Corica memberikan klarifikasi mengenai insiden yang menyebabkan dirinya diusir keluar lapangan.

"The toblerone was next to me, the foam thing, and I just kicked that away," ujar Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Ia mengaku tidak berniat menendang bola ke arah ofisial keempat, Ben Abraham, meski menyadari tindakannya bisa disalahartikan.

"There was a ball there as well that I kicked away and I think the fourth official thought I was kicking it at him, which I wasn't," jelas Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Pelatih berusia 53 tahun itu mengakui seharusnya bisa menangani situasi dengan lebih baik di area teknis.

"That was it. Probably could have dealt with it a bit better, but if he thinks it was at him, it wasn't, so just got to make that clear," lanjut Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Selama masa sanksi, Corica dilarang berinteraksi dengan tim atau berada di pinggir lapangan selama pertandingan berlangsung.

"I'll be somewhere," ucap Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Dirinya berencana mencari tempat yang tenang untuk memantau jalannya laga melawan Central Coast Mariners.

"I'm not allowed in the change room for a couple of hours obviously, so I'll just stay away and try and find the best quiet spot," kata Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Corica bahkan berkelakar akan bergabung dengan kelompok pendukung The Port jika timnya sedang dalam posisi unggul.

"Maybe [I'll] join The Port if we're winning," imbuh Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Berdasarkan laporan nzherald.co.nz, pihak manajemen klub telah berbicara dengan ofisial yang kemudian mengakui adanya kesalahan dalam tidak memberikan pelanggaran bagi Auckland.

"They admitted that it probably should have been a foul, so I was right," klaim Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Corica merasa jika keputusan wasit tepat sejak awal, dirinya tidak perlu mendapatkan kartu merah dan semua pihak akan merasa puas.

"I probably shouldn't have got a red card and then we're all happy," pungkas Steve Corica, Pelatih Kepala Auckland FC.

Auckland FC saat ini menempati posisi kedua klasemen, terpaut tiga poin dari Newcastle Jets dengan sisa dua pertandingan reguler musim ini.