Let A-League players and coaches speak their minds
Columnist By Mike Tuckerman, 29 Oct 2012 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
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- A-League, Adelaide United, Andrew Durante, football, Ian Ferguson, Perth Glory, Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix
Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix saw controversy over diving (Image: Supplied)
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It may have gone largely unnoticed but the A-League threw down an unexpected gauntlet to the NRL and AFL over the weekend, with certain key personnel telling us what they really thought about refereeing decisions.
Adelaide United’s fortuitous 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix saw visiting skipper Andrew Durante lash out at the Reds’ Argentine import Jeronimo Neumann and the performance of referee Jared Gillett.
“I think the first one was offside from what I saw,” Durante told Fox Sports in reference to Cassio’s goal, after the full-back was played in by Jeronimo who appeared to be offside in the build-up.
“The second one he’s dived, he’s a cheat. In my book if he’s dived, he’s a cheat,” added the Phoenix skipper.
“I think the referees were shocking tonight.”
The “second one” Durante was referring to saw Gillett hand Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund a straight red card after he clipped Jeronimo as the Argentine was rampaging down on goal.
Though there appeared to be some contact, Jeronimo’s laughable dive left the Phoenix fuming at Sigmund’s subsequent dismissal.
The merits of Sigmund’s sending off are up for debate, but what made Durante’s reaction so different to anything we see in our other domestic codes was his sheer willingness to candidly voice his opinion.
That’s a world away from the heavily censured NRL and AFL, and A-League officials would be well advised to let players have their say and avoid sanctioning them for doing so.
One thing the A-League has lacked in the past is a personal narrative from players and that’s the kind of insight which helps draw fans closer to the game.
“To end the game with a referee’s decision like that… that linesman on the far side did nothing to help this game. I thought it was extremely poor,” raged Durante – and on the basis of video replays, who can blame him?
Durante wasn’t the only one offering a frank point of view from a controversial round of action.
Sydney FC can thank their lucky stars for somehow coming away with all three points despite a lethargic performance in their 2-1 win over Perth Glory.
And the failure of referee Peter Green to award Perth a penalty for Rhyan Grant’s handball inside the box raised the hackles of Glory coach Ian Ferguson.
“To me that decision today, and I don’t want to harp on as if it’s sour grapes here, but it’s a certain penalty, it’s a guaranteed penalty and we don’t get it,” Ferguson said after the match.
“They said it wasn’t intentional. They need to clarify what is a penalty and what isn’t a penalty, because I’m gobsmacked, to me that was a certain penalty,” he added.
Were Ferguson a rugby league coach, he could reasonably expect to cop a fine for such a forthright statement from the ARL Commission – the same body that just last week sacked referees’ co-coaches Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper for consistently poor refereeing performances in 2012.
And while there’s a fine line between constructive criticism and unhelpful pillorying of referees, the fact is their performances are always going to be scrutinised.
Football is an entertainment business after all, and fans want to see players vent their frustrations after defeats just as much as they want to see them celebrate wins.
Jeronimo looks well on the way to becoming one of the best players in the A-League and after only four matches he is already one of the signings of the season.
But his ‘just been hit by a sniper’ routine looked farcically contrived and if the well-respected Durante considered it cheating, so be it.
Everyone else is allowed an opinion, so let’s let players and coaches speak their minds as well, lest the A-League turn into the kind of straight-jacketed cliché-fest rival codes have become.
Mike Tuckerman is a Sydney-born journalist and lifelong football fan. After lengthy stints watching the beautiful game in Germany and Japan, he has settled in Brisbane and has been a Roar columnist since December 2008. Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
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October 29th 2012 @ 7:45am
Lucan said | October 29th 2012 @ 7:45am | Report comment
Disagree with making the referees fair game. Respect for referees is a must. Have official, away from the media, channels to discuss concerns and disagreements with the refereeing fraternity.
You allow this sort of public lashing, watch the pool of young referees coming up through the ranks dwindle. Watch parents stop their youngsters taking up this integral part ofthe game at junior/amateur level.
Not good enough.
As for the peer-to-peer/player-to-player sledge. Let ‘em go for it and the PFA/Union can clean up the aftermath.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:20am
Darwin Stubbie said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:20am | Report comment
While I applaud Durante’s tell it as he sees it call …. I don’t believe it should be open season …. The FFA should look the whole problem when dealing with him – and take into consideration the growing intrusion of the media straight after the whistle (and in some cases at halftime) … If they don’t want a repeat of this they should restrict access or at the very least give the players an option not to have an interview straight after while emotions are running high
October 29th 2012 @ 8:43am
jbinnie said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Mike – Well timed article,what with Suarez having a perfectly legal winning goal chalked off by a referee’s assistant making a wrong decision in the dying seconds of this morning’s local derby in Liverpool.Normally the resultant draw wouldn’t matter ,each gaining a point, but that differential of 2 points could have big money ramifications by season’s end.
So we are back to the endless argument, how can we help officials without affecting the flow of the game?.
On Durante’s “spray” and the following discussions, I remember many years ago when managing a team one of my players was sent off.On inquiry he informed me he had been sent off for calling the referee a “b—–d”.Upon castigating him for doing so he informed me the referee had used the same terminology all through the game!!!!!!.
Finding this hard to believe I approached the referee a few hours after the game and asked him how accurate was this piece of information.Imagine my surprise when he told me he saw no problem in using the word for it depended on HOW it was used.!!!
The player got a 4 week suspension,the ref carried on unquestioned,after all it appeared he had not done anything wrong.Such is our game of football jb
October 29th 2012 @ 11:06am
apaway said | October 29th 2012 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more, DS. Durante’s reaction was moments after the final whistle with the adrenalin still surging and no thought given to the immediate future. If the A-League thinks its ok to allow access to players straight after the whistle, then the players should be able to speak in the heat of the moment. This is very different to a coach launching a verbal attack on referees at a press conference an hour later.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:25am
Ryan said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Referees should be held accountable no matter what, the poor officiating on the weekend could be costly to both teams, will it be season defining well it’s too early to tell?
The Wellington Phoenix and Durante have every single reason to be irate at the sub par officiating in their match against Adelaide.
Your over reacting that parents will pull their children from taking up officiating of the game.
The officials in both matches MUST be held accountable and I applaud both Durante and Fergusson IMO both were right in voicing their concerns over the sub standard performaces put in by the officials in their matches.
No one is above the game not even the Umpires!
October 29th 2012 @ 8:39am
Lucan said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Kids emulate their heroes. I see it regularly. They mimick their moves, their celebrations, and the attitudes. Ref bashing/disrespecting is an aspect we don’t want to see replicated at the lower levels.
We already struggle to get referees at these levels. Making refereeing even less inviting is a flawed idea.
The AFL and NRL protect their referees for the good of the game at all levels, not just for their professional leagues. I expect the FFA will run a similar line.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:43am
Damiano said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Well said Lucan, also kids need to learn to respect opposition players, and to learn how to lose with grace.
This article is just another attempt to drum up some controversy. Typical Tuckerman.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:55am
fadida said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
I agree Lucan. Respect for officials is so important. Ferguson’s comments were fine to me, as he disagreed but did not question the referees competence from what I heard, merely his interpretation of the handball rule.
It’s time to put an end to the immediate post match interviews I think, as anyone who has played the game knows that the period just after the whistle is one of high emotion. Asking players what they thought of decisions is always going to attract controversy from frustrated players.
If we decide to go the way of an open forum for players and coaches to criticise refs then it has to be both ways. Interview refs after game for their frank views…
Ref “I didn’t give a red because when Djite is involved there is no such thing as a goal scoring opportunity”
Ref “I thought it was a poor game. Both coaches aren’t at the required standard and I think Heart are a poor and dull side. They never pass forward and lack creativity”
Ref “I booked Burns, Bojic etc not so much for that tackle, but because they are niggly little thugs and I’m sure they intend to injure”
Ref “it wasn’t my decision that cost them the game. Their finishing is woeful and the keeper had a shocker. He shouldn’t get a game”
Imagine the outcry, and yet Durante’s comments are seen as acceptable by some? Criticising a player for diving I don’t have an issue with, but not officials in that fashion.
October 29th 2012 @ 12:53pm
nordster said | October 29th 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Or on the other hand parents themselves could raise their kids to respect referees and opponents rather than expecting television or some random footballer to do it for them. I know, its a radical idea!
October 29th 2012 @ 1:11pm
Damiano said | October 29th 2012 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Nordster, unfortunately parents, try as they may, cannot be the only influence upon their kids behaviour.
It’s also in the leagues’ interests to avoid this contrversy so the game doesn’t appear to be a rabble, and to be a postivie influence for parent who may want to bring their kids along to the game, but merchandise etc.
October 29th 2012 @ 1:27pm
nordster said | October 29th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
That being said, it does seem to be the case that parents rely a little too much on the thought police in instances like this…could they not use it as an example of what not to do? Seems like a lot of kids have more respect for what they see through the media than what comes from their parents…is censoring others the answer to a broader failing?
October 29th 2012 @ 2:23pm
Damiano said | October 29th 2012 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
Yes agreed, that’s the approach I take, pointing out the player was sanctioned as a result of his bad sportsmanship.
In this instance I think this article has been written to provoke some controversy. The writer of this article is obsessed with the soap opera of the game and thrives on negative aspects of our game.
Many clubs will sanction their players in addition to the sactions applied by the league, I don’t know if this happens in Australia.
The open slather will give writers like Mr Tuckerman more to write about, but I can’t see it being good for the image of the game, and will give the anti-footbqall brigade plenty of ammunition i.e. “whinging primadonna soccer players etc”
October 29th 2012 @ 7:38pm
nordster said | October 29th 2012 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
The image of the game…well the game can chase its tail forever worrying itself into boringness on that one…i’d rather have a little more controversy than some are comfortable with, as opposed to constant self censoring and the vacuum of interest that can create.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:28am
Jupiter53 said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:28am | Report comment
To those ignorant of the laws of the game [Ian Ferguson?!?] – handball has to be intentional.
I presumed that the ref decided that Grant was so close that there was no way he could have intended to handle it. The other aspect is that if a defender goes in with his arms spread wide then refs will give handball even if he is hit from point blank range as the intention was to intercept the ball with the outstretched arms. This did not apply to Grant either; his arms were only making the movements natural to his jump. So that’s one the referee got right.
To the more general point about comments – I think it is possible to respectfully state that referees make mistakes – after all all the rest of us do. However if the league decides that we all have to pretend that referees are infallible I thought John Hutchinson’s ironic unstinting praise of the officials after CCM were robbed last week was a model of how to respond.
October 29th 2012 @ 8:55am
C'monJETS said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Ian Crook poured water on ‘that’ handball issue to cool it a little by stating quite rightly, if he was a coach, he would have called for it too. But his admission does not help the referees who he implied got it wrong with his admission, even though they probably ruled correctly as per the laws of the game.
The yell of ‘HANDS….or Hand Ball’ is heard all day during a match, here is the rule to make up your own mind.
Laws of the game, 2012 edition Pg 65
Handling the ball (direct free kick)
Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm. The referee must take the following into consideration:
* the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)
* the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)
* the position of the hand does not nescessarily mean that there is an infringement
oh to be a ref
October 29th 2012 @ 9:19am
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:19am | Report comment
The “intention” from Grant was to stop the cross coming in and he did so with his hand,thats the other angle you need look at.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:56am
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
There are plenty of incidents in football where a defender has absolutely no chance of getting his hands out the way of a strike/cross due to power or the distance between the attacker/Defender.The thing about yesterday is that Grant came towards Harold and jumped in the air to block the cross,now some would argue you cant control your hands when you jump but surely if the attacking side has got themselves into such good crossing position your jumping technique should not be determining whether its penalty or not.
October 29th 2012 @ 10:17am
langou said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
I thought it was a correct call
The ball was kicked into his hand. He made no movement towards the ball, he didn’t have his arms in an unnatural position so no hand ball.
If I had to proportion blame for the loss yesterday than I would be looking more at Steve Pantelidis for that brain fade.
October 29th 2012 @ 10:39am
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Bravo! I’m with you Iangou. Even as a completely unbiased SFC fan…LOL! But seriously, the hand ball was in no way intentional, his head was down so he would not even have had a clue as to where the ball was going and the hands were along the side for balance.
Do we expect defenders to tackle with their hands behind their back?
October 29th 2012 @ 2:08pm
Philip said | October 29th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Yes, if you jump in the box to block a ball coming at you, you are supposed to put your hands behind your back or at least by your side. Grant jumped and made himself big which was a deliberate decision and therefore in my view a deliberate handball.
October 29th 2012 @ 3:37pm
langou said | October 29th 2012 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
Phillip,
Where in the rules does it say that if defending in the box you must have your arms behind your back or by your side.
October 29th 2012 @ 3:27pm
AVictory said | October 29th 2012 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
It wasn’t intentional but what’s he doing spreading himself like a scarecrow? In the box no less and it blocked the cross. It’s a handball. Keep your hands to yourself and we won’t have to ask any questions.
Accidental or not, it was reckless.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:40pm
Roger said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:40pm | Report comment
Yep. Arm away from body is asking for trouble
October 29th 2012 @ 8:58am
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
Surely there’s a line between gagging players/coaches from criticisng referees and the way Durante carried on after the game? I have no issue with referees being held accountable to a point but there’s a respectful way to do so. I thought Ricky Herbert handled himself really well in the post-match press conference. He was able to get his point across very clearly without seriously disparaging the officials (at least in the bits that I saw anyway.) Besides, if a team wants to make a complaint about an official then I would have thought that going to the FFA would be a better option.
re Ferguson – I didn’t think he was complaining about the referee as much as complaining about the rule, which is different.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:31am
Christo the Daddyo said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Respect for officials needs to be paramount. If you’re a player/coach, just say you were disappointed with some of the decisions and leave it at that. If you want to take it further, do it through official and discreet channels.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:51am
striker said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
The referees have been very ordinary this year, yesterdays hand ball was a definate penalty too many games there getting it wrong.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:53am
Bondy. said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Has to be intentional striker,clear intent and there wasn’t nowhere near it.
October 29th 2012 @ 12:24pm
Matt F said | October 29th 2012 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
The debate over the handball from yesterday actually shows that the rule itself probably needs to be clearer. The fact that there has been so much debate about it, and the responses seem fairly evenly split, would suggest that leaving it up to human judgement to determine “intent” has problems as people interpret intent differently. The only person who can accurately judge whether it was intentional or not is Rhyan Grant.
October 29th 2012 @ 10:52pm
ECP said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:52pm | Report comment
You are deluded Striker.
In my day, when I was one of the best NSL players in the league, the refs were even worse than the Z League.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:52am
Bondy. said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
I think the Nix are maturing as a football club if that happened at the start of last year they’d have just walked and said nothing,the Nix expected to win there and have shown there frustrations ,although dont put a microphone in front of somebody a minute after a match and then complain about etiquette when they give a spray
If Fergie looked at that replay and reversed the players would he expect a handball decision. No.
October 29th 2012 @ 9:57am
Stalker said | October 29th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Whilst I’m am filthy about the Nix game ( and not just the Diveonimo but a whole series of whistles that went against Wellington) Dura could have chosen some better words had he had a chance to cool down. Do we really need to hear from the players 10 seconds into the half time break and straight after the game?..
Probably not. Let them get some advice.
Jeronimo acted like a cheat during the game. I doubt he will do it again. Bring on his suspension.
October 29th 2012 @ 10:35am
nordster said | October 29th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Well said Mike. The whole censured vibe around the league only detracts from the passion of the players. What’s the point of interviewing them at all if they’re going to be muzzled? May as well just draft standard winner/loser/drawn game press releases and have them read them to camera like some spokesmodel, post match. That would after all be the Safe option…no conjecture folks, nothin to see here…its weird how some folks just want to copy everything other sports do, the cookie cutter model is cross-sport it seems