Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has accused Football Federation Australia of double standards after Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold was cited last week.
Arnold was called to account following Sydney’s last-gasp 2-1 loss to Adelaide United, where Sydney conceded a 94th-minute penalty.
He faces a hefty fine and possibly even a touchline ban after using the word “criminal” in his post-match press conference.
“To me, there’s a double standard there,” Merrick said on Saturday after his team snatched a late 1-1 draw against Sydney at Westpac Stadium.
“If you listen to a couple of benches, and the language that comes out of some coaches, it’s terrible language, (with) swearing.
“It’s heard through the microphones but nothing’s done.
“Then Graham Arnold says one word and it’s taken out of context, and I think very unfairly.
“I don’t think that’s right compared with the language that comes out of some coaches’ mouths.”
Sydney FC has submitted a formal response defending Arnold, saying his remarks were taken out of context.
Arnold said: “I’m very proud of my boys, they worked extremely hard, 11 against 10, I thought we did exceptionally well and it was criminal how it ended.”
He said the comment referred to the way his team withstood Adelaide with only 10 men for more than 60 minutes after Alex Gersbach’s red card, only to concede at the death, and there was no intention of criticising match referee Strebre Delovski.
“It never ever entered my mind of criticising Delovski, who I think is probably the best referee in the league.”
Arnold has a history of butting heads with the FFA, and was fined $1000 three weeks ago for not attending the post-match press conference following Sydney’s scoreless draw against Wellington.
He was also fined $5000 in January after Sydney’s scoreless draw with Newcastle, saying “pathetic” referees were deciding the outcomes of games.
He later apologised for the remarks and avoided suspension.
Musto
Guest
I wasn't referring to the article per se - I was referring to the fact that refs decisions are so crucial in a game that 50-50 calls are controversy for a week. In the old days when TV was less "insightful" there was room for discussion but now its a sham - need for TV review to stop this post game press conference dance
Waz
Guest
Football will not work without independent referees - we tried it in the past where each side provided a referee each but they found they could rarely agree. So we moved to an independent model that we still have today. Without it we can't play football. Criticism of the referees undermines the game, Arnold has a history of doing it. I'm all for free speach and colour in the game but we need to keep referees off-limits otherwise we will end up where NRL is in Queensland, security guards deployed at junior games to protect match officials. In this particular case it's a matter of opinion and belief - I don't believe Arnold was talking about the game but rather the penalty decision. I have no proof of course but that's what I believe - can the FFA convict him on that basis alone, no - but they can call for an explanation which is all they have done at this point. A few coaches need to get over themselves - if they have a model that guarantees referees can be 100% right all the time why don't they propose it and get it delivered?
Ciccio
Guest
This is synonymous with the arrogance of the Super League the rugby league failed to create a few years ago. Allow a bit of opinion and colour and stop placing managers in straight jackets and you will make football more interesting. Stop being like spoilt little girls FFA. Yet another example of political correctness overkill. Throw the rule book at creative people and you will end up with a smaller, confused crowd. It's about the game and the fans, not about you. Keep it real.
Batou
Guest
I think you might have missed the gist of the article Musto. He wasn't complaining about the penalty, didn't whinge about the ref or anything like that. It isn't about whether there was a penalty or not, its about Arnie being singled out for a ridiculous citing from the FFA over using the word 'criminal' in his press conference to display how disappointed he was with the result after the team looked to be heading for a draw after working hard with 10 men for most of the match. Merrick is quite rightly pointing out that much worse is said every week and left unpunished and that this appears to be a case of double standards.
Musto
Guest
If you want close games of football which is the attraction in part then you have to live with monumental decisions that change a game. Don't blame the refs - blame the laws - a penalty is a massive deterrent but can be given away so easily and stupidly...