Whatever you think of referee Alex King’s decision to send off Nestory Irankunda on Saturday night, the teenage Adelaide United tyro shouldn’t have let his emotions get the better of him.
King’s decision not to award the 17-year-old a free-kick deep into stoppage time for what looked like a foul by Melbourne Victory substitute Chris Ikonomidis felt like a harsh call.
Irankunda had Victory’s measure throughout the game, so it was no surprise to see the beleaguered home team resort to fouling the flying winger at every turn in a desperate attempt to stop him.
Victory captain Roderick Miranda was deservedly sent off for two fouls on the electrifying Reds front man in quick succession, with the Portuguese defender dismissed shortly after Hiroshi Ibusuki’s 59th-minute equaliser.
But even if King got the decision wrong to award Irankunda a second yellow for his reaction after the young referee failed to award Adelaide a free-kick deep into stoppage-time, Irankunda still shouldn’t have reacted like he did.
Yes, he’s just a kid.
And yes, the Victory fans booed him relentlessly towards the back end of the game – at times even mistaking substitute Musa Toure for the quicksilver Irankunda.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
But the only thing to be gained from his furious response towards King was a second yellow card, and the Reds did well to get Irankunda off the pitch before he did even further damage.
In that sense Victory defender Connor Chapman was no help – racing over to Irankunda and ushering him towards the dressing room.
But here’s the thing: much as we all enjoy watching Irankunda light up the league, it’s not up to his opponents to feel sorry for him for getting sent off.
Chapman was rightly yellow-carded for his role in the fracas but unlike Nestory, he wasn’t already on a booking.
Victory coach Tony Popovic echoed pretty much all of our thoughts when he sympathised with the Adelaide tearaway in the post-match press conference.
“I’ve been there as a young player and you feel the world’s ended in that moment,” Popovic said.
“It’s a split-second decision, you know, (and) I didn’t want him to do something he’ll regret.”
Former Reds striker Bruce Djite wasn’t having a bar of it in the post-game reaction on Channel Ten and Paramount+, calling Irankunda’s dismissal “an absolute joke”.
“Do we want referees not protecting the hottest, brightest prospects in Australian football?”
Djite’s right – and I myself thought Irankunda was fouled and should have won a free-kick – but we need to be careful not to throw King under the bus when it’s hard enough to attract referees to the game.
The fact is that was one of the most tempestuous Original Rivalry clashes in recent years and it was a good thing King blew full-time when he did.
The same could probably be said for the Newcastle Jets, who let slip a two-goal lead on Sunday afternoon and were fortunate to come away with a 2-2 draw against the fast-finishing Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Jets deservedly went 2-0 up at a rain-soaked McDonald Jones Stadium thanks to a couple of spectacular finishes from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, only to be pegged back by one of the scrappiest goals of the season from Josh Brillante.
The Wanderers equalised through a clinical first-ever A-League goal from their new Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson, and thought they had a late penalty when Dane Ingham was adjudged to have handled a bouncing Nicolas Milanovic cross just after the Swede’s goal.
But VAR correctly ruled that Ingham did not handle the ball and the Wanderers had to head back down the F3 with only a point in hand – and a personal thank you to fans who travelled up on the supporter bus from head coach Marko Rudan.
But the main talking point was undoubtedly Irankunda’s red card.
It rules him out of next Saturday night’s blockbuster against Sydney FC and will perhaps make German giants Bayern München think twice about signing him.
But not for long.
Like a league us diehards refuse to walk away from, Irankunda is simply too good to ignore.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I suppose I look at it from my own personal experience. I have lost it with a referee when I didn't think a clear decision didn't go my way & yes, I fully understand being punish for it, like Irakunda was. However, I've never berated an opponent who has just been sent off in a situation that did not involve myself. That to me was the dog act. Not disagreeing with the punishment to either player.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
They both attracted the same punishment - a yellow card. It's just that Nestor's was his second. And again, I'm not condoning what Connor Chapman did. But I also don't see why he would care about what happens to an Adelaide United player.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Of course, you are right. It's perfectly alright for a harden professional to run up & abuse a young player after he was sent off, but not ok for a 17 year old to react towards the referee, after being being repeatedly fouled.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
It's not up to Connor Chapman to roll out the red carpet for Nestor though, is it? He is, after all, his opponent.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I think, like Ange Postecoglou did during the week, we just need to accept the referee's decision.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
They still call my fellow WSW fans 'habibs', so i'll absolutely call them out as racist.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Like what exactly? Saying one word to a Ref after being persistently fouled. Or do you mean grabbing Chapman by the shirt when he was confronted by him AFTER being sent off? He was almost off the pitch by the time Chapman assaulted him. You must remember he [Nestory] received his yellow card for dissent, towards the referee's non-decision-making, the assault by Chapman, was only punishable with a yellow card. The young lad was visibly upset at being sent off. Like most 17 yo he wanted to fight the whole world. I am disappointed with some of his older more experienced teammates, I hold the opinion that if the more experienced players got involved when he was being bullied, then maybe Ikonomidis might have had second thoughts about his persistent fouling of him. The ploy MV used I am certain others will follow. Lets see how AUFC and Carl handle the situation.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
100% right which is why, IMO Alirezeh Faghani stands out against our local refs. I like your idea about bringing referees out here from other Asian comps, or England/Europe. Some of our guys might not be as bad as we all might think. Jarad Gillet is regarded as one of the EPL's top Refs. Yet when he was out here I didn't rate him as highly as others did, 5 GFs and 5 refs of the Year, tells me I know FA about being a good judge of a Ref.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
As an ardent Adelaide fan I can tell you the real reason you don't hear us, we do our 'booing' face-to-face, as they leave on their bus. We make certain the individual gets the message. But we here in Adelaide tend to be a better quality of fan. [cough, cough, splutter]
HR
Roar Rookie
I don't know that I would agree with your last paragraph. Remember that last season, Veart dropped Irankunda to the reserves for not meeting internal expectations of younger players (packing away at training and helping with kits from memory). I'm sure he'll get some sympathy (the ref made an error in not calling what was a fairly obvious foul), but I think he'll also get a talking-to about keeping his cool even when the ref makes a blunder.
Daniel Robson
Roar Rookie
I can't support a red card and a week's suspension. Shocking bit of refereeing and he was deservedly berated by the player. I don't support verbal abuse, but the ref and the League should own up to the poor decision and reverse the suspension. Hacking the vast player on the opposite team is par for the course in A-League and is a blight in the game. Tell the ref to harden up.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
FIL- you echoed my thoughts entirely regarding what was being served up. I’d like to think it was not instigated by TP but somehow I got the impression that there was a definite plan to upset the “young whippersnapper”.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I do remember the Yengi incident, he did stoke the fire somewhat but I don't think either excuse, or any excuse for that matter, for booing is valid.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The most amazing piece of refereeing was that ref who caused the Prattan Park riot. Gerry Gomez kicked Soper in the head despite the ball being on the ground and Soper was fully upright possibly the worst foul of all time. Then Soper got sent off reacting to despite it being more of a push than a punch and Gomez stayed on.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Afternoon FiL - yes, I'm looking forward Saturday evening and expect that unless something changes significantly (Corica out, Alex Ferguson in :happy: ), the Glams should find themselves 0-5. :shocked: What did you make of the Jets yesterday? They could easily have had 3 or 4 before Wanderers got their act together, and might've done had Buhagiar had his shooting boots on, but looked very vulnerable late on.
2 Bobs Worth
Roar Rookie
The linesman looked as if he was going to say something about the Irakunda theatrics that resulted in a free kick and goal to Adelaide. Ended up leaving that to the ref. Same happened at the end. Irakunda could have got the first yellow for simulation!
2 Bobs Worth
Roar Rookie
There are a number of lessons for Irakunda. Australian supporters don't like divers. Divers should not make it into the Socceroos. His theatrics earned Adelaide a free kick that was converted into a goal, as well as 2 yellow cards. Does he expect the opposition supporters to cheer his triple twist without pike? After the theatrics a referee will make him earn subsequent free kicks. No player will agree with 100% of referee calls. Suck it up, or expect a card. PS. Bruno FallOver is just as guilty of theatrics. He should not make the Soccerooos either.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the reaction to the booing is not for irakunda, its for the treatment musa toure recieved. different body type, different physique, different playing number on the back of his shirt, different hair cut - he looks completely different to irakunda (besides obviously the skin color) yet he was heavily booed non stop - thats the issue from adelaide fans. dont forget that adelaide reported victory for racially abusing yengi a couple seasons ago - the victory fanbase has that element in them. im not implying it was racial, but it seemed very unusual given what i said above
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Redcap, I am not sure about you mate, but the next two weeks are going to be compulsory viewing. The Smurfs go to Coopers Cleansing Beverage stadium to face a very much in-form Adelaide, and I reckon the Reds will run Sydney stupid, and just when the Smurfs didn't want it, they'll have to participate in a Sydney derby and the Wanderers supporters will be smelling blood. Bring it on I say. Oh and as i die hard Jets supporter, don't count our lads out of notching a win against WU. Come on you Jets!!
Garry
Roar Rookie
which is great!