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Smaller clubs cop a raw deal from referees compared to larger clubs, veteran A-League coach Ernie Merrick says.
Merrick has noticed the trend since coaching Wellington Phoenix after his stint at Melbourne Victory.
“I have learnt that refs treat you differently when you are part of a smaller club,” Merrick told Fox Sports after a last-minute loss to Adelaide on Saturday.
The experienced coach later told reporters: “I have discovered though that since I have been at the Phoenix, it’s pretty tough. When you’re at the Victory, I found I had a better run, I have to say.”
Merrick questioned decisions of referee Strebre Delovski after Adelaide’s Sergio Cirio netted a 94th match-winner at Coopers Stadium.
Cirio goaled after Adelaide defender Osama Malik was awarded a dubious free kick – but Merrick says the Reds player should have been sent off by then anyway.
“I didn’t think it was a rough game but there were five yellow cards so he (the referee) set a standard on yellow cards,” Merrick said.
“But Malik took a player out and got a yellow card in the 77th minute. And he did exactly the same thing two or three minutes later and he got away with it.
“And he was the one that finished up getting a free kick at the end when it was our player (Ben) Sigmund that was actually pulled down.
“It’s tough for referees, I know that … but the standard was set right from early on. Malik does exactly the same thing but no yellow card – why? Is it too tough to send him off? I couldn’t understand that.”
Wellington copped 19 fouls to Adelaide’s 12, and three of the visitors were yellow-carded.
Merrick also suggested the A-League review possible incidents of diving in all games.
“I quite like the idea of cleaning up the game but I don’t think we need to review every single game, it’s only occasional,” he said.
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