Last night’s AAMI Park contest was hardly an even fight, so is it once again time to talk about A-League refereeing standards?
Let’s get the disclaimer out of the way first: refereeing is difficult. Without our officials, there’d be no football – and that includes at the highest level.
With that being said, you’d have to be Blind Freddy to overlook the fact that refereeing decisions continue to have a major influence on many A-League matches.
And Central Coast Mariners fans must have been muttering under their breath about Blind Freddy last night, after referee Daniel Elder brandished a straight red card to Roy O’Donovan in Melbourne City’s 2-1 win at AAMI Park.
In Elder’s defence, he originally looked like he had no intention of dismissing O’Donovan for raising his arm against City defender Michael Jakobsen.
But after consulting with the assistant referee, Elder suddenly brandished a red card in just the 23rd minute of the game.
It left the Mariners to battle on with 10 men for more than an hour, as their only recognised striker trudged straight from the field not long after scoring a ninth-minute equaliser.
In fairness to the officials, there are some mitigating circumstances worth mentioning.
O’Donovan has a history of leading with his arm in aerial challenges, and his combative all-action style tends to draw the attention of every A-League referee.
He’s also been on the receiving end of some seriously lenient decisions – once when he could have broken Leigh Broxham’s leg with an X-rated challenge, and more seriously when he only received a yellow card for head-butting Manny Muscat in the face.
O’Donovan subsequently received a massive eight-week suspension for the head-butt, so you can perhaps forgive the referees for being somewhat trigger-happy around the Irishman.
What frustrates fans, however, is not just a lack of consistency in the decision-making process – undoubtedly an issue this season – but also decisions that completely change the fabric of the game.
Melbourne Victory were fortunate to beat Brisbane Roar 3-2 at AAMI Park last week, despite Besart Berisha receiving a straight red following a duel with Roar defender Luke DeVere.
It was not the first time a Roar defender has clutched at his face following minimal contact this season, but it was enough to see referee Chris Beath send Berisha off.
Crucially, Beath consulted with his assistant referee being brandishing the red card, making it twice in one week a key player has been dismissed on the basis of some dud advice.
So what’s the answer? Is it the Video Assistant Referees set to be introduced in time for the finals?
The VARs will supposedly only focus on four key areas: goals, penalty decisions, red cards and cases of mistaken identity – but that would have been enough to exonerate both O’Donovan and Berisha.
The latter swiftly had his red card rescinded and lined up against Wellington Phoenix midweek – much to the Kiwi side’s chagrin – but there was no such consolation for a beaten Mariners outfit.
And with games being heavily influenced by key moments like O’Donovan’s dismissal, perhaps the VARs are just what the A-League needs.
At the very least, Melbourne City will be pleased to have eked out a narrow win over the visitors from Gosford, with marquee man Tim Cahill once again proving his worth where it most counts – the goals tally.
Yet it’s hard not to feel sorry for the Mariners, who’ve turned in several valiant performances in recent weeks only to come away empty-handed.
It’s left coach Paul Okon fuming, and he may yet pay the price for telling Fox Sports after the match that Elder’s decision “ruined the game”.
At most, the former Socceroos stalwart is only guilty of saying what everyone else was thinking.
And in a week in which decision-making continues to raise eyebrows, it’s worth asking – not for the first instance – is it time to talk about refereeing standards?
tully101
Roar Guru
what time during the game did this occur
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
It might help if the opponents don't writhe around in agony like their leg has been shot off with a bazooka. I saw the replay a few times and Grant's foot actually made first contact with the ball and they slid over the top of the ball into the other guys shin pad. It was very wet after heavy rain in Sydney and everyone was slipping around in it. The only thing I thought was disgraceful was the play acting to get a yellow card. He got up and ran around like nothing happened as soon as Grant got the yellow card.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
If you google "complaints about referees" you get about 443,000 web pages in 0.48 seconds. And that is only for today.
Kris
Roar Rookie
After Grant's disgraceful tackle last night, I don't think anyone could argue that criticism of the referees is unwarranted. Instead of a straight red card and three game ban, he is given a yellow card and allowed to continue. The referees are failing the players and the supporters and something needs to change.
Josh
Guest
Could we talk about the players, too? Boo-zanis' run from 60m away to remonstrate with the official is beyond the pale. Are there any laws of the game to punish this behaviour? If not, I'm wondering whether or not it's time to advocate for a change to the laws of the game to a) make it so only the captain can engage the ref or linesperson and b) any contrary behaviour from other players, or disrespect from the captain, is punished with a card (yellow or red depending on nature of the incident). Whether this change would be agreed is up to the powers that be, but this is one area where rugby union has got it right.
Squizz
Guest
And Timmy put the right elbow into the top of McGing's head while slapping him on the face with his left hand. As McGing is going down clutching the top of his head the commentator says its poor defending while Timmy claims McGing headed it out for a corner. A bit of consistency would be nice.
Jack
Guest
I have to agree completely with article, too many decisions are incorrect in a league. I also find that the big teams (Sydney fc) get a lot of the 50/50 s that are not the obvious bad calls spoken about in media
Waz
Guest
For anyone that's played the sport we all know what he was doing - he was defending the space by putting his arm out. It's not a natural running position to have your arm out like that. So he looks forward, sees where the defender is, knows he wants to protect the space, so puts his arm out to "own it", and he did so .... knowing there was a possibility of a collision. Which occurred. Hence the red. He did not need to have his arm up therefore it will be considered wreck less at the very least. The ref called it right.
Waz
Guest
Under the rules what you've described would not result in a red card due to minor contact.
Waz
Guest
It's not a court of law mid and there's no comparison, there's pages written on why elsewhere. Intent is left for the ref to interpret - did O'Donavan deliberately smack him in the chops , no; did he put his arm out to protect the space, yes; did he put his arm out at a height knowing he could impact a players head, yes he did. Intent proven. I think it should have been a yellow. But the rules are very clear and you want to blame someone blame O'Donnovan - he should have know better
Waz
Guest
I agree with your last statement, and also that the rules aren't always right but once it's the rule you do risk a red which is what happened. It is interesting that mike asked a question and instead of discussing it we're talking about an incident.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Maybe a yellow card for ref abuse Mid. Your risking a card yourself for asking for a red :-P Ref abuse might be something the refs themselves might sight post match for review, rather than your club highlighting this. I don't think it matters if the player is crippled or unconscious as to the severity of the card issued. But player conduct against your team is worthy of a look if there is a case here...
punter
Guest
I wish they use video technology only for the most blatant srrors. O'Donovan send off as seen by many differences here, stays ref call Carney's handball against MV, clear as day, no goal, ref error. Overturn call.
SVB
Guest
Are you a referee by any chance Fadida? You are taking one small 'off the cuff' comment I made in a post awfully seriously.
SVB
Guest
Being qualified is one thing. Being competent in your job is another. But they all do look young, hence my reference to them being 'inexperienced'. Perhaps they need more guidance in assessing incidents in a game, and then giving advice to the main referee. I am not saying throw them out. Better training would certainly help.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
You obviously don't watch what has happened to the NRL. Each week, the NRL headlines are predominately about refereeing errors, and not the quality of the games. The NRL Bunker tech was meant to fix human error, but that same tech relies on human decision making - all of which vary and all of which still get it wrong. As a result NRL is losing long time supporters and damaging the game. HAL wants video tech? Fine, if its non-negotiable for corporate media. If the tech sticks purely to checking a ball going over the goal line for a goal, other than that - no bloody way!
punter
Guest
Pete that is your perception, I certainly did not think so. So my point being that the one that counts are the officials.
Midfielder
Guest
agree
pete4
Guest
Only 3 commercial FTA networks here I think Channel 10 is a good fit
pete4
Guest
I thought the Blake Powell elbow in the 2nd half was worse (which didn't even attract a yellow)