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The Melbourne Victory Vs North Queensland game at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon has to go down as one of the most controversial in the A-League’s history, for a number of reasons.
There were three penalties, three more shouts for penalties, two players red carded and five yellow cards – two of them for simulation.
But the one incident from the game that has everyone talking is the sending off of Fury defender Akoto after he shoved Victory captain Kevin Muscat.
I was at the game, and as soon as I saw Muscat hit the deck, I knew there was going to be a red-card. I was thinking to myself what a bloody idiot Akoto was for getting himself sent-off, after his team had just won a penatly.
But after watching the replay when I got home, there seemed to be more to the incident than I first thought.
Diogo Ferrieira was unfortunate to get the penalty awarded against him when there seemed to be minimal holding whatsoever. The holding was way off the ball, as well.
I don’t understand, though, why Akoto ran up to the referee even after the penalty had been awarded. His mouth-guard then dropped to the floor, and he pushed Muscat out of the way quite softly to pick it up. The referee has then, I think, over-reacted and sent Akoto off.
But why did Akoto run up to the referee? Why did he un-needingly push Muscat over? And why did it take his manager, Straka, to run across to the other side of the pitch to escort him off?
There must have been something to provoke his actions?
No?
Muscat though, has come out and emphatically denied anything was said to provoke Akoto.
“I was having a bit of banter with him throughout the game. He kept kicking the ball out and I kept reminding him about it,” Muscat said.
“He reacted. He’ll go around making stories up and accusations just because he’s got himself sent off.
“As far as I’m concerned he deserved to get sent off and that’s it. He blatantly pushed me.”
But part of the issue is understood to involve Akoto’s mouth-guard, which was near Muscat’s foot at the time of the incident.
“The mouthguard is involved in the incident somewhere, but there’s probably more to it than just the mouthguard,” North Queensland assistant coach Stuart McLaren said.
“It would have taken a lot for Eric to react like that because he’s a pretty cool, calm and collected customer.
“There’s been something said there that’s provoked a sizeable reaction from a player that from his character and his level of experience normally wouldn’t react like that.
“Before we release any statement or comment, we need to make sure we’re clear on exactly what’s been said before we either make any false accusations, or realise the seriousness of the matter.”
Merrick is adamant nothing was said either.
“We’ve seen there’s a suggestion in the paper that there may be more to this red card incident,” Victory coach Ernie Merrick said.
“We believe that this matter was dealt with accurately by the referee on the spot.
“Kevin has said nothing that would or should warrant any investigation, and from our perspective, we move on.”
So as you can see, Victory and Muscat are denying nothing was said, but what made Akoto react the way he did?
I think this situation has been overblown slightly.
Akoto didn’t even look that angry when he shoved Muscat, he was clearly just trying to pick up his mouth-guard. Akoto was just more pissed at being sent off for nothing than anything else really.
It will be a very interesing few days to say the least regarding this issue, but for now I believe Muscat = Not Guilty
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