FFA Cup: Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick blasts standard of refereeing after star player injured
Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick blasted the standard of officiating in the wake of an injury to Wes Hoolahan in their FFA Cup defeat that will sideline their prized recruit for up to three months.
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Australia’s refereeing standards haven’t improved in 15 years, Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick says.
Merrick launched a fresh blast after his prized Irish signing Wes Hoolahan suffered a serious ankle injury which will sideline him at least three months. Hoolahan was hurt in Newcastle’s 1-0 loss to Adelaide United in Tuesday night’s FFA Cup quarter-final.
Merrick says the initial prognosis on the Irish international is an ankle syndesmosis injury which will take at least 12 weeks to repair. The circumstance of Hoolahan’s injury and other refereeing calls in the Jets’ cup loss riled Merrick.
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He says the standard of refereeing hasn’t improved since the A-League started in 2005.
Hoolahan, a veteran of 43 internationals for Ireland, limped off after a tangle with Adelaide’s Ryan Kitto early in the second half.
“He got kicked from behind and he twisted his ankle forward - and then he got a free kick against him,” Merrick said.
“It’s hard to complain when you lose a game.
“But these things are very tough to take because I have been in this league a very long time and the refereeing hasn’t improved.
“And you (media) are probably going to get me fined because I know you’re going to make the most of what I have just said.”
Hoolahan, a 37-year-old Dubliner who spent a decade with Norwich City in the English Premier League and the English Championship, will have scans on return to Newcastle.
“He won’t be available for several weeks into the season,” Merrick said.
“He was really kicked hard in his ankle and his foot got lodged and two bones at the bottom, when it splits, it’s called syndesmosis - minimum three months injury.
“And then he got a free kick (against) as well ... everyone can see it was a tackle from behind. How did it possibly get a free kick as well?”
Merrick also railed against two other controversial calls which went against the Jets as they were tipped out of the cup.
Goalkeeper Lewis Italiano was given a straight red-card in the 10th minute for a challenge outside his area which referee Daniel Elder believed was a “last man” foul.
“The player was going wide and there was two players inside Lewis when he made the tackle,” Merrick said.
“So I thought the send off sort of ruined the game.”
And Merrick said “blatant hand ball” by Adelaide captain Michael Jakobsen should have resulted in a Jets penalty.
“His hand is out at the side,” Merrick said.
“We have still got this system where the referees don’t seem to refer to the linesmen and the linesmen don’t say anything.
“Of course there’s no VAR in these games, thank goodness.”