November 22 – Adelaide United Aurelio Vidmar (pictured) has been suspended and fined heavily by his club for a racist remark that Australian officials feared could jeopardise their bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Asked at a midweek press conference about the softness of his team, Vidmar replied: ”What would you like me to do?
“Chop their heads off?
“I can do that.
“We can go to Saudi Arabia and we can do that.”
Adelaide have announced that Vidmar has been fined $10, (£5,500) – half of it suspended – and banned from match-day coaching for two weeks.
The sanctions were approved by Football Federation Association (FFA), who are fearful of offending the four Asian members of the FIFA Executive Committee who will vote in December 2010 on which countries will be awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.
Sam Ciccarello, the chief executive of Adelaide United, said: ”Our coach, Aurelio Vidmar, made comments that we believe were inappropriate, and whilst made in jest and flippantly, were in poor taste.”
Vidmar, 42, who was capped 44 times by Australia during a career that saw him play for clubs in six countries, said he accepted the punishment.
He said: ”I have to take my medicine.
“It was unacceptable what happened on Thursday.
”I know that I’ll learn from this.
“I’ve learnt from other mistakes I’ve made in my life so this will make me a stronger person.”