Brisbane Roar assistant coach Ross Aloisi faces major disciplinary measures after allegedly striking a rival coach in the tunnel after the Roar's 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United.

A match that was simmering with spite, malice and controversy boiled over after full-time when Aloisi took his anger out on his rival assistant coach, allegedly knocking Adelaide's Jacobo Ramallo to the ground with a punch from behind, sparking an investigation from Football Federation Australia. Cameras captured Ramallo lying flat on the floor in the tunnel after the incident with witnesses informing Fairfax Media that Aloisi allegedly walked up to the Spaniard and struck him in the lower back, minutes after Adelaide were awarded a controversial penalty to win the game.

Sources suggest the altercation took place inside the tunnel as the two coaches were walking towards their respective dressing rooms and in front of the match commissioner, stadium security and staff.

It was a bitter end to a match riddled with animosity, with senior club sources suggesting a war of words between both coaching benches showed little signs of a ceasefire. Aloisi will now likely have to explain himself to an FFA judiciary with an investigation into the incident to commence on Monday. While Ramallo had to be carried into the dressing room, he didn't sustain any injuries.