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.
TC
Guest
Fair enough that you disagree, but no need for name calling and abuse (the very thing you are wanting to stamp out). TC
Beardan
Roar Guru
Mike Tuckerbox is a jibberer. Yes allow for criticism of referee's and see how many matches go ahead without referees. Fair dinkum jibberer Tuckerbox.
ECP
Guest
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.
Sylvester
Guest
Durante is experienced enough that he should to be able to bite his tongue in those situation despite obviously boiling inside about his feelings on the refereeing. That being side, that dive was horrendous. I've watched a few replays and can see no evidence of the ankle being clipped. The shirt was grabbed, but the hands were off well before he went over.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Completely agree, and for all codes. The refs should take a shot at coaches as well ie 'I've been watching this game at close range for years, and Im really not sure how a team with the talent of X can play as badly as they do. If I was the board of Y, I'd be asking myself if the problem is the cattle, or how they are organised'.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
That may have something to do with a largely unpublicised NSWRL court case (Beetson v Humphreys, 1980) where a judge found that while it was in the leagues legitimate interests to prevent players and coaches from commenting on referees, such protection was an unnecessary restraint - in this particular instance referring to public comment in newspaper articles. In other words, the NSWRL/NRL cannot prevent players and coaches from commenting on referees, and to be honest you'd expect the ruling to be looked at in any other australian sporting context, regardless of the leagues Code of Conduct.
Roger
Guest
Ha!
Roger
Guest
Yep. Arm away from body is asking for trouble
nordster
Guest
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.
Midfielder
Guest
Punter Cough cough... mate I would see someone with those imaginings you are having ..... there are some very good yellow and blue pills that may be able to help .... AS for the ADP FC V Mariners .... hope it fills Bluetounge and the Cove go home bowed and beaten by the knowledge that have met a far better team...
MV Dave
Guest
Nice work Mid...TV and crowd figures have massively increased in the last 2 seasons. The FFA and clubs deserve credit for bringing the HAL back into the spotlight for all the right reasons.
Punter
Guest
Great numbers Mid, the TV ratings are up the crowds are up, things are on the improve in the A-League. Coming up to Bluetongue this weekend to watch the mighty SFC smash the CCM. Got a couple of mates from work, living up the CC who are going to first A-league game ever to come & watch the great ADP.
Midfielder
Guest
The average after four rounds is 95, 000 per match. The average last season across all matches and the finals is 65, 000, which was up 40% on the previous year. Meaning Hal 6 average ratings … 46, 500 plus a 40% increase is 18, 500 thus 65, 000. Increase this year to date 95, 000 – 65, 000 is 30, 000 or a 46% increase from Hal 7. But taken together the Hal 6 figure was 46, 500 today's average is 95, 000 or a 104% increase within 18 months… that is impressive growth by any measure….
Punter
Guest
Yes totally agree.
me, I like football
Guest
ignore
langou
Roar Guru
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.
AVictory
Guest
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.
me, I like football
Guest
Midfielder, with the capital city ratings they do not take the ratings and apply them across regional Australia. they represent those that live in the Capital City broadcast areas which include the Cental Coast and Gold Coast regions. The PayTV ratings cover more of Australia than the FTA ratings even when including the regionals than those that follow Rugby league like to boast as it also includes Tasmania and not just the Qld, NNSW SNSW and Vic markets. The PayTV ratings also doesn't have the substantial double counting (potentially 1m) in Brisbane and Sydney like the FTA ratings as they include figures in the regions that have both regional and Capital city stations broadcasing and are included in Oztam (capital city) figures even if they are watching the regional telecast and are therefore statistically included in the regional figures. Ratings on FTA TV for Tasmania and starting this year regional WA can be found but "Tasmania and WA have not been included in Aggregated market results due to their being markets with composite network affiliations" those that live in the other areas of Australia essentially the Outback known as the Diary regions do not release their ratings.
jmac
Guest
classic
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Solution is to let the referees unload as well :D "Player X is a cheat, I'm sick of his whinging and the coach might have a better argument for me costing him the match if his players hadn't shot the ball into row Z from 5 yards out!"