Rules not the same for all, says Farina

By Sam Lienert, 4 Jan 2009 Sam Lienert is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: Adelaide United, Ernie Merrick, football, Frank Farina, Queensland, Queensland Roar

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Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina has accused A-League referees of double standards, believing Melbourne were lucky not to have been reduced to 10 men in Friday night’s clash at Telstra Dome.

The Victory won 2-1, all three goals coming in the second half, including a gem of a header from Melbourne defender Rody Vargas while facing away from goal.

But Farina said Vargas should have been sent off in the 18th minute for a two-footed tackle on Massimo Murdocca which drew a yellow card from referee Peter O’Leary.

The Victory veteran has a reputation as one of the league’s nice guys and Farina was adamant that Queensland hardman Danny Tiatto would have been dealt with differently for the same offence.

“It didn’t look good, it looked double foot over the ball,” Farina said.

“If that was Danny Tiatto as long as my backside points to the ground he would have got a red card.”

Farina said double-footed tackles needed to be severely punished because “they can break players’ legs and put their careers on the line.”

The match was nearly not played at all, with O’Leary concerned the surface was unsafe after a huge New Year’s Eve dance party was held at Telstra Dome two nights earlier.

Only the intervention of the two coaches meant the game went ahead.

“It’s not ideal but that’s the way it is and we can sit around and moan all we like, bag the shit out of people or try to bash people up over it, but the reality is it wasn’t that bad in terms to play on,” Farina said.

Roar player Mitchell Nichols said the ground was “bumpy and slippery” in areas and pieces of metal and other debris were picked up beforehand.

But he said the Roar’s home ground, Suncorp Stadium, had similar issues after a concert earlier this season.’

Vargas said the surface was unacceptable for a top-class stadium.

“If you can imagine there was 40,000 people at a rave party a day before we have to play on it, so you can imagine what was on the field,” he said.

“I’m not quite sure what was on there but it surely wasn’t grass.”

Victory coach Ernie Merrick was also unhappy, but expected it to be up to scratch by Tuesday’s crucial match against Adelaide United.

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The Crowd Says (6) | Page 1 of Comments

Pippinu said | January 4th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment

Frank’s memory is pretty poor.

Last time the two teams met, at Suncorp, Tiatto got away with a far worse two footed tackle with his whole body in the air.

The time before, in Melbourne, Tiatto elbowed Vargas in the throat, and even the FFA’s post-match review committee saw nothing wrong with it. In the meantime, in the same game, Carlos Hernandez, who had been butchered by Tiatto the whole game, copped two of the softest yellows imaginable to get his marching orders.

Frank should focus more on his team’s inability to manufacture goals.

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Dave said | January 4th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment

Pip

Conspiracy theory??

QR were not adventurous enough in the first half and were waiting for MV to self destruct rather than trying to win the game themselves. It was only when they went 2 down they had to push forward they could have pinched a draw. Too bad and now FF is deflecting attention away from that lost opportunity.
MV at least try to win every game…if only they had the players/ability/tactics to use the full width of the park.
Nevertheless shaping up nicely for Tuesday at the TD (would be nice to see the Melbourne media actually give some publicity to the game commensurate with its importance, back page, some build up in the next couple of days etc)…hopefully 30,000 plus will help MV get an early goal and break the game open. Longer it goes goal less then the greater chance of an AU win.
Memo EM: go with a 3 man attack of AT, DA and NF. Lets put AU on the back foot from the KO!

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Koala Bear said | January 4th 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment

Dave,
when will it stop; this favouritism for MV FC .?. Alslop should have been suspended (2 weeks) for knocking over the Special One .. And Vagas sent off for the double footed tackle .. .. But of coarse Ben Buckley is an expat Victorian trying to keep the Vics in contention for the ACL.. Is this a reverse conspiracy theory I am proposing .?. You bet it is… btw you have to take your hat off for Tiatto for giving the crowd the peace sign .. What a champion sportsman he is…

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KB

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Dave said | January 4th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment

KB

Maybe a bit harsh on DA…usually when he is aiming for something (goal for instance) he misses…which makes me think he was trying to miss Alf (JK) and therefore ran into him
RV was just showing the ref how Tiatto tackles…good demo by the way!
Young Danny T…he must be so disappointed he didn’t come back to his home town and play for a decent team…l actually think he was telling the crowd how many goals he had cost the Roar

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Koala Bear said | January 4th 2009 @ 12:06pm | Report comment

Dave,
you made a very good point with the Tiatto’s salute.. Of coarse a Melbourne Lad and obviously signalling to his TD barman mate.. “Two beers son, for me and me mate Muskie, after we shower”….. Innocent.. ! Case closed…

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KB

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Pippinu said | January 4th 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment

Dave
I’d be extremely disappointed if we can’t get 30,000 plus at this game.

Width? When that front triangle of Carlos, Arch and Danny gets going (with Ney as a back up) – who needs width?!

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