Perth Glory head coach Richard Garcia has questioned the integrity of the A-League after a series of refereeing decisions went against his team in their 1-0 loss to Sydney FC.
The match at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium had a strange feel to it, with the start of play delayed by 45 minutes due to thunder. The thunder returned as the game approached stoppage time – interrupting the stadiums lights – and referee Adam Kersey ended the game early.
After the match, Garcia was ropable that the match was ended early without his team getting an explanation from the referees.
“I am still trying to figure out why?” said Garcia.
“We call off the game – but then players are on the pitch doing interviews. I am all for player welfare, but we are still doing interviews – so why is the game getting called off? [I’m] baffled.”
Perth also had strong claims for a first half penalty turned down, when Paulo Retre appeared to bring down Carlo Armiento with a two-footed slide tackle in the box.
Garcia called the incident a “stone wall penalty,” blasting the use of the VAR.
“Who’s running VAR?” said Garcia.
“It’s a penalty every day of the week.”
The first half ended scoreless. In the second half, Sydney came out looking the stronger side – and deservingly took the lead through a Kosta Barbarouses goal in the 54th minute – which proved to be the winner.
Perth had their own opportunities to level the match, and Armiento was at the thick of the action again. As he bore down on Sydney’s goal, he looked to have been fouled by Sydney defender Joel King, with only the keeper to beat. Referee Kersey instead saw the play as simulation, and booked the Perth winger.
This decision added to Garcias frustrations and he questioned the legitimacy of the A-League.
“Carlo Armiento’s through on goal and has to skip over someones leg and gets a yellow card against him? C’mon. Please.” Garcia said.
“If we are going to keep going down this road, where are we going to end up?
”
“It’s hard enough coming here and playing against a good team let alone with this conflict of interest throughout the league.”
The loss to Sydney means Glory have won only once in eight matches.
For Sydney, the win lifts them up to 4th place on the ladder after back-to-back wins. The champions now have two consecutive home games, against Melbourne City and Adelaide.
Sydney manager Steve Corica said he was happy with his teams playing style, stating it was “very important” that they continued their winning momentum.
“Two more home games – [against] tough opposition,” said Corica.
“This is what we look forward to – massive games.”
“The team are playing well at the moment. We have had a couple good couple results.
Performance wise, I’m very pleased.
”
Feature image credit: The Football Sack
Enjoy this content? Support The Football Sack
Due in part to COVID and lack of current sponsorship we are at risk of not having the funds to continue running The Football Sack. If you enjoy our content and support our work in training talented young writers, please support us with a donation. If every reader contributed just $3, our funding would be covered for over ten years.
| DONATE |
