Sockers Meet to Determine Action on Hirmez Incident

Socker Coach Ron Newman, president Ron Cady and midfielder Waad Hirmez will meet this morning to discuss what action will be taken in the wake of Hirmez’s argument with Newman and subsequent decision not to return for the second half of Sunday’s 2-1 loss at St. Louis.

Following a similar incident earlier this season, defender Cacho was given a one-day suspension and fined. Newman said Hirmez will likely be assessed the same type of penalty but will not be suspended for either of the remaining two regular season games.

“That wouldn’t behoove us to do something like that,” Newman said.

Said Cady: “We’ll mutually agree on some type of discipline. It’s usually a fine or a suspension for a number of days. That’s how we’ve dealt with it in the past.”

The incident occured during the first half, when Newman criticized Hirmez and told him to speed up his game. Hirmez, who said he was trying to catch his breath after coming off a long shift, took exception to Newman’s comments and an argument ensued. Newman said he told Hirmez he was acting like a rookie.

“He said he didn’t want to hear that from a rookie,” said Hirmez, a six-year veteran of the Major Indoor Soccer League. “I said to him ‘I don’t think I’m a rookie.’ If he considers me a rookie, that’s a slap in the face.”

Newman said he saw Hirmez taking his shoes off in the locker room at halftime and told him he wanted him on the bench during the second half. Hirmez said he decided if he wasn’t going to play there was no point in sitting on the bench. He watched the remainder of the game from the stands.

“I asked him at halftime if I was going to play and he said ‘I want you sitting on the bench,’ ” Hirmez said. “That’s pretty much telling me I’m not going to play unless he needed me. I don’t think I’m a toy to be played with.”

Newman said it was Hirmez’s responsibility as a member of the team to be suited up and available for the second half. He said he often criticizes players during the game to inspire them but that Hirmez took it harder than he should have.

“I don’t think I was being very unkind to him,” Newman said. “I felt that he turned on me. I’ve known Waady since he was a little kid, and I don’t expect to be shouted at like that.”

According to Hirmez, Newman has been severely critical of him since he returned to the lineup from a hamstring injury six weeks ago.

“It hurt me,” he said. “It seems that everything I’ve done has been wrong in his eyes. I was a player to be picked on.”

Socker owner Ron Fowler expressed concern over the incident.

“I was just flabbergasted that no matter what was said it was handled (by Hirmez) in that manner,” Fowler said. “I think, at the very least, it was very immature and unprofessional. At worst, it was the height of egotism.”

If Hirmez apologizes to his teammates, Fowler said, he won’t receive a stiff penalty. Hirmez said he is willing to apologize but feels there are two sides at fault.

“I felt really bad after the game because I felt I could have helped the team,” Hirmez said. “It’s really a sad thing because this game could cost us a championship in the long run.”