Jason BrycePlayers bully ref in A-League grand final
March 2nd 2009 03:44
The A League grand final, played before a sell out crowd at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, should have been the showpiece game of the year, but soccer in this country keeps shotting itself in the foot. Never has a sport been so good at snatching defaet from the jaws of victory of its rival codes.
On Saturday night, there was no violence or crowd disturbances of any kind, yet an unwllingness by the bosses that run the game to show replays of controversial incidents on the big screen at the ground has cost fans the chance of the contest in the grand final and Adelaide the chance for redemption against a cocky Melbourne outfit.
With no help from technology at all, the referee Matthew Breeze was talked into two red cards during the match by players from both sides, the first in the tenth minute was against Adealaide's Christiano. The second, deep into the decond half saw Allsop marched after nothing mpore than a gentle shoulder bump in the goal square.
On both occasions the referee and assistant referees looked to be bullied into giving red cards by players, especially Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic and Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat.
The end result was Melbourne 1 - Adelaide 0 after the Reds played most of the match with ten men.
The result may have been different if there had been instant replays shown ont he big screen at the ground so players could be shamed perhaps before the huge crowd. Their childish tantrums and blood on the head of Vargus, seemed to convince the young officials that there was more intent in the actions of Allsop and Christiano than there really was.
The performance of some of the A League 'champions' left a lot to be desired on Saturday night. Standing over and shouting at officials is not on. What is the message this is sending to the kiddies?
Officials at most junior games already have to be escorted from the field by decree of the FFA.
The bullying of match officials by senior professional players determined the outcome of the ALeague grand final. Just when the world was watching the A League, the players blew it and so did the refs. You can't blame the administrators for this latest blight on the game Eugene Galekovic and Kevin Muscat.
On Saturday night, there was no violence or crowd disturbances of any kind, yet an unwllingness by the bosses that run the game to show replays of controversial incidents on the big screen at the ground has cost fans the chance of the contest in the grand final and Adelaide the chance for redemption against a cocky Melbourne outfit.
With no help from technology at all, the referee Matthew Breeze was talked into two red cards during the match by players from both sides, the first in the tenth minute was against Adealaide's Christiano. The second, deep into the decond half saw Allsop marched after nothing mpore than a gentle shoulder bump in the goal square.
On both occasions the referee and assistant referees looked to be bullied into giving red cards by players, especially Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic and Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat.
The end result was Melbourne 1 - Adelaide 0 after the Reds played most of the match with ten men.
The result may have been different if there had been instant replays shown ont he big screen at the ground so players could be shamed perhaps before the huge crowd. Their childish tantrums and blood on the head of Vargus, seemed to convince the young officials that there was more intent in the actions of Allsop and Christiano than there really was.
The performance of some of the A League 'champions' left a lot to be desired on Saturday night. Standing over and shouting at officials is not on. What is the message this is sending to the kiddies?
Officials at most junior games already have to be escorted from the field by decree of the FFA.
The bullying of match officials by senior professional players determined the outcome of the ALeague grand final. Just when the world was watching the A League, the players blew it and so did the refs. You can't blame the administrators for this latest blight on the game Eugene Galekovic and Kevin Muscat.
| 29 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
