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.”
Stevo
Guest
Ref can get decisions wrong during a match and we all should cop it sweat. But serious off the ball incidents, as Ernie points to, should be reviewed. WTF FFA FFS.
clayts
Guest
I really place little value in what the commentators say. The first thing they go to is "oh he was the last man." which is completely irrelevant. I agree that Phoenix were harshly treated, but it would be better to have a bit of balance. There were certainly calls that went against Heart too. Marchisio - spot on. By the way, I support Roar. In another thread i outlined all the mistakes I saw. There were errors both ways in my opinion. I was more commenting on the fact that this article seemed to highlight only those mistakes that were deemed to be detrimental to Phoenix
Marchisio
Guest
2 wrongs don't make a right Clayts, the officiating was dreadful in this game, but Phoenix were more harshly punished. I don't have any personal interest in the outcome either, I support neither team, and the result of this game was unlikely to affect the position of my team anyway.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
You miss the point Clayts. Both examples you quote were questionable, either way. Williams' touch was away from goal and too close to Moss, it wasn't a clear scoring opportunity any longer. The offside was marginal but just there. In both cases you quote the commentators agreed with the officials. But i'm not talking about 50/50 stuff. They need to find a way to get the obvious calls right, the game breakers - a lot more often than they currently do.
clayts
Guest
Um. Sigmund should have been sent off with a straight red two minutes earlier for a clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity on Williams. Did we just conveniently forget this? And what about Heart's goal that was incorrectly disallowed for offside?
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Phoenix were absolutely stiffed. Boyd's shot only "cannoned into Kisnorbo's arm" because he deliberately stuck it out there. To go from what should have been 2-0 up, 11 v 10 to, a few minutes later, 1-1, 10 v 11 was almost surreal. Durante and Merrick were all class afterwards, way too kind on Ben Williams, when they had every right to unload. But football has this wrong. Everyone accepts that referee interpretation and error is part of the game, but when one side is allowed to play a second goalkeeper like this, fair goals which clearly cross the line are not awarded… administrators need to man up and accept the challenge of finding a solution.