Gold Coast United striker Shane Smeltz has denied setting out to injure Adelaide United defender Iain Fyfe with a rash tackle during Saturday night's 1-1 draw.

Branded as 'rash and very disappointing' by Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar, Smeltz's challenge eventually forced Fyfe from the field with knee and ankle ligament.

Smeltz told the Gold Coast Bulletin: "I would never go out to deliberately hurt any opponent and that was never the case.

"I'm a friend of Iain's, we played together (in the old NSL) at Adelaide City and I called him afterwards and he's fine with it.

"He's done the same to me and also other players and those things are just part of football."