North Queensland Fury coach Franz Straka has learned his lesson, but refuses to change his ways.
The Czech will be free to coach North Queensland from the sideline at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday, with his appeal against a one-match ban for his outburst against match referees during half-time of North Queensland’s loss to Central Coast, still being scrutinised.
The independent disciplinary committee took almost four hours to go over evidence put forward by the Fury and Football Federation Australia.
The panel failed to reach a decision, requesting more information from the FFA, clearing Straka to coach in week 10 pending further investigation.
Straka was elated to avoid FFA’s punishment which would have left the Fury without a coach on the sideline following the Fury’s pre-emptive punishment of assistant coach Stuart McLaren, copping a two match ban and $5000 suspended fine.
“I’m back,” Straka smiled.
Straka praised club bosses for going in to fight for his cause, using yesterday’s joint press conference with Perth to make his feeling public.
“First I thank you Rabieh (Fury chief executive Rabieh Krayem) for helping me be on the bench with the team, (with) my boys,” Straka said.
“I think it is very important to be on there with the boys.”
“I promise you one thing, we will do our best this week, we will make a good game of it.”
The incident and fallout has shaken the tactician, but there is no chance that it will curb his touchline animation which has quickly established him as an A-League favourite.
“I think at every age you have to learn… and I have learned much,” he said.
“But this is me, I’m an emotional man. I am always on the line, on the edge.”
With newly promoted Perth coach and foundation Fury mentor Ian Ferguson returning to Townsville for his first A-League match since his off-season departure, Straka was keen to deflect some of lime light.
“You know, the only man that should be getting the focus is my friend here (Ferguson), he has come back,” Straka said while giving the Scotsman a handshake and pat on the back.
