Referee choice for Australia v Syria was baffling given the background, FFA must seek an explanation

NOT to accuse the referee of double-dealing, but the Asian Football Confederation has left itself wide open after this terrible penalty decision by a man whose appointment is truly baffling, writes David Davutovic.

MALACCA, MALAYSIA — OCTOBER 05: Australian players talk to referee Alireza Faghani after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Playoff match between Syria and the Australia Socceroos at Hang Jebat Stadium on October 5, 2017 in Malacca, Malaysia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

THE referee barely rated a mention pre-game, but by the final whistle it was all the rage in the Socceroos’ contentious World Cup qualifier.

An Iranian referee was appointed to officiate a decisive World Cup qualifier involving their country’s closest ally Syria.

In any other continent, such a politically sensitive appointment would’ve consumed considerable pre-game debate, but on this occasion it took until the 83rd minute.

With eyes fixed on the ball, Mathew Leckie rose alongside but slightly before Omar Al Somah, clearing a high cross with his head.

Australian players talk to referee Alireza Faghani after the penalty decision

The Syrian striker fell, appearing to be knocked off balance but accentuating the contact with Leckie’s timing leaving him better placed to win the header. Al Somah converted the penalty to earn a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

I am not accusing the referee of double-dealing, but the Asian Football Confederation has left itself wide open when there were dozens, if not hundreds of other more suitable options for a tie that has $12 million and a World Cup prize at stake.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou handled himself with aplomb and the players were quite measured post game in of their best and most controlled performances in recent times in tough, humid Malaysian conditions against an underrated opponent.

But Football Federation Australia is within its rights to seek a please explain from the AFC.

“It was not a penalty and I thought it was very poor from the referee,’’ Leckie said.

“I just asked why you think it’s a penalty? He (the referee) didn’t want to talk to me, he just said if you keep going, I’ll give you another yellow.”

Khaled Almbayed of Syria (2L) and Mathew Leckie of Australia (C) fight for the ball

Captain Mark Milligan was left perplexed and shattered at the call, that leaves things delicately poised for the second leg.

“It took such a controversial decision (for us to concede). That’s what I felt deflated about,’’ Milligan said.

“From my vantage point, two players went for a header and Lecks was way too strong in the air. When I asked him (the referee), he told me it was the clearest foul of the game, so I’m not sure what to make of that.’’

They say these things even themselves out. And to be fair, the Socceroos got a soft penalty of their own to rescue a point away to Thailand last November.

But the decision for such a high stakes game remains baffling.

We are not talking neighbourly chums here, but a strong military and economic alliance born in 1979 that has intensified since the civil war began in 2011 with Bashar al-Assad’s regimen relying heavily on Iranian support.

Baffling.