Bemused Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick says he can’t understand why contentious incidents in the A-League are no longer subject to post-match reviews.
In his first season back in the A-League after a stint in Hong Kong, the Phoenix boss insisted defender Ben Sigmund was unlucky to be sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the 2-2 draw with Melbourne Heart on Sunday.
The Phoenix were also denied what looked to be a clear penalty when Tyler Boyd’s goalbound strike cannoned into Heart defender Patrick Kisnorbo’s arm, only for play to be waved on by referee Ben Williams.
But Merrick was more concerned with off-the-ball incidents, claiming two of his players had been elbowed in the face in their previous two matches.
“If there was simulation or violent conduct behind the play or during play that wasn’t picked up by the referee it used to be reviewed, but it doesn’t seem to work that way,” he said.
“I don’t know what the system is because we’ve had two boys with elbows to the face in the last two games.
“One of them is out for the season and neither were reviewed and we are just told ‘no it’s not going to be reviewed’.
“… if you don’t review them then the players have success getting away with it if the referee is unsighted.”
Merrick said he had raised the matter with Football Federation Australia, only to receive a long return letter “similar to War and Peace”.
“With the legal speak I was dizzy,” said Merrick, who won two championships with Melbourne Victory in his first job in the A-League.
“I had to sit down after a while.
“It was such a convoluted excuse not to review it and I just wonder what is going on.”
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