Sean
Well-Known Member
Referee apologises to Perth Glory
A-League referee Strebre Delovski has apologised to Perth Glory coach David Mitchell for the blunder that cost the visitors a point in a 2-1 loss away to Adelaide United on Sunday.
But the referees contrition has done little to placate Mitchell, who fears that mistakes by officials could cost a coach his job.
Its soul destroying for me, the players and the club, Mitchell said yesterday. And it could be careerthreatening for me and other coaches. Referees have a tough job to do but a bad decision is not going to cost them their livelihood.
Delovski awarded a penalty for Jamie Coynes challenge on Lucas Pantelis late in the second half, even though contact was made outside the box and Coyne seemed to win the ball.
I can accept that referees will make mistakes. But he jumped in too quickly, Mitchell said.
The coach was fined for speaking out over a similar decision by referee Craig Zetter to award a penalty that helped Newcastle grab a draw in August. Mitchell was also fuming a week later when Adriano Pellegrinos challenge on Steve Corica was deemed to be a penalty before Dino Djulbic was sent off and Glory imploded against Sydney FC.
The WA clubs coaching staff believe the combined impact of refereeing errors has cost the club a minimum of four points.
Mitchell, though, whose position is again under fire as the club languishes in last place, six points off a finals spot, knows the consequences could be even more serious for his own future in the game.
The officials from Sundays match were staying in the same Adelaide hotel as the Glory team and the referee approached the coaching staff during their evening meal.
He came up to us and said he got it wrong and he apologised for that, Mitchell said. But that doesnt help my cause or the club.
Glory had taken the lead in the 54th minute when Nikita Rukavytsya fired home at the near-post before Alemao levelled in the 79th minute when goalkeeper Tando Velaphi failed to deal with a Robert Younis cross.
Although United, who returned on Saturday morning from a 36-hour trip to Uzbekistan after their Asian Champions League match in Tashkent, defied fatigue to mount a storming finish, they were gifted the three points by Delovskis mistake. Travis Dodd slotted home the penalty in the 82nd minute.
Mitchell advocated putting referees into a full-time environment and also believed video technology could be used to limit the number of errors.
I think for crucial decisions like red cards, penalties and goals, we should use video because they are usually the defining moments in a game, Mitchell said. You probably couldnt do it for every offside because the game would be stopped too often.
Although world governing body FIFA is reluctant to use video technology, Mitchell said Football Federation Australia should offer to use the A-League as a testing ground.
His comments come just a week after Adelaide were the beneficiaries of another poor decision when an assistant referee failed to see Cristiano in an offside position before the striker contributed to the only goal of the game against Queensland. Roar coach Frank Farina, who was fined as a result of his outburst, also wants video to be used in contentious cases.
A-League referee Strebre Delovski has apologised to Perth Glory coach David Mitchell for the blunder that cost the visitors a point in a 2-1 loss away to Adelaide United on Sunday.
But the referees contrition has done little to placate Mitchell, who fears that mistakes by officials could cost a coach his job.
Its soul destroying for me, the players and the club, Mitchell said yesterday. And it could be careerthreatening for me and other coaches. Referees have a tough job to do but a bad decision is not going to cost them their livelihood.
Delovski awarded a penalty for Jamie Coynes challenge on Lucas Pantelis late in the second half, even though contact was made outside the box and Coyne seemed to win the ball.
I can accept that referees will make mistakes. But he jumped in too quickly, Mitchell said.
The coach was fined for speaking out over a similar decision by referee Craig Zetter to award a penalty that helped Newcastle grab a draw in August. Mitchell was also fuming a week later when Adriano Pellegrinos challenge on Steve Corica was deemed to be a penalty before Dino Djulbic was sent off and Glory imploded against Sydney FC.
The WA clubs coaching staff believe the combined impact of refereeing errors has cost the club a minimum of four points.
Mitchell, though, whose position is again under fire as the club languishes in last place, six points off a finals spot, knows the consequences could be even more serious for his own future in the game.
The officials from Sundays match were staying in the same Adelaide hotel as the Glory team and the referee approached the coaching staff during their evening meal.
He came up to us and said he got it wrong and he apologised for that, Mitchell said. But that doesnt help my cause or the club.
Glory had taken the lead in the 54th minute when Nikita Rukavytsya fired home at the near-post before Alemao levelled in the 79th minute when goalkeeper Tando Velaphi failed to deal with a Robert Younis cross.
Although United, who returned on Saturday morning from a 36-hour trip to Uzbekistan after their Asian Champions League match in Tashkent, defied fatigue to mount a storming finish, they were gifted the three points by Delovskis mistake. Travis Dodd slotted home the penalty in the 82nd minute.
Mitchell advocated putting referees into a full-time environment and also believed video technology could be used to limit the number of errors.
I think for crucial decisions like red cards, penalties and goals, we should use video because they are usually the defining moments in a game, Mitchell said. You probably couldnt do it for every offside because the game would be stopped too often.
Although world governing body FIFA is reluctant to use video technology, Mitchell said Football Federation Australia should offer to use the A-League as a testing ground.
His comments come just a week after Adelaide were the beneficiaries of another poor decision when an assistant referee failed to see Cristiano in an offside position before the striker contributed to the only goal of the game against Queensland. Roar coach Frank Farina, who was fined as a result of his outburst, also wants video to be used in contentious cases.
