A-League: The three referees who should officiate big games after Zinedine Machach’s red

After the Big Blue was overshadowed by a controversial red card, Socceroos great ROBBIE SLATER and MARCO MONTEVERDE argue the A-League’s biggest fixtures must be reserved for just three officials. They dive in to all the big issues in The Tackle.

After the Big Blue was overshadowed by a controversial red card, Socceroos great ROBBIE SLATER and MARCO MONTEVERDE argue the A-League’s biggest fixtures must be reserved for just three officials.

They dive in to all the big issues in The Tackle.

Spectacle spoiled

What a shame that one of the A-League’s marquee games was impacted by a refereeing decision.

Adam Kersey’s call to send off Melbourne Victory star Zinedine Machach just 15 minutes into Saturday night’s “Big Blue” ended any chance the match had of being a spectacle.

While Sydney FC deserved its 3-0 win at Allianz Stadium, playing against 10 men for 75 minutes significantly aided the Sky Blues.

If Machach deserved to have been sent off, there would have been no arguments about the red card and what it did to the game.

However, replays showed that the French midfielder’s boot made contact with the ball before it slid off and connected with the top of Sydney defender Jordan Courtney Perkins’ foot.

If anything, it was a careless tackle that at the most deserved a yellow card, which Kersey initially produced.

Zinedine Machach’s red card for Melbourne Victory was a major talking point from the weekend’s action. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

However, VAR Kate Jacewicz suggested to Kersey to review the footage.

And this resulted in Machach being sent off, for “serious foul play”.

This was the game of the round, being played in a prime-time slot. These sort of games should be controlled by one of the A-League’s arguably three best referees ­– Alex King, Alireza Faghani or Shaun Evans.

Instead of being asked to referee the “Big Blue”, King’s weekend appointment was a match involving the competition’s worst team, Brisbane Roar.

At least King and Evans had weekend games. For whatever reason, Faghani hasn’t refereed an A-League match since Western United’s 3-1 win over Perth Glory on November 22.

It’s one of only three A-League games Faghani ­– a man who has officiated six FIFA World Cup matches ­– has been in control of this season.

It’s madness that Faghani has hardly been used this season and it’s hurting the competition.

Reds not yet real deal

Until Adelaide United can finish off teams, the Reds can’t be considered genuine title contenders.

For the second time in two matches, both at their home ground of Coopers Stadium, the Reds have given up two-goal leads.

And on Friday night, it led to them losing their first game of the season.

While Western Sydney Wanderers deserved their 3-2 win, Adelaide shouldn’t have been beaten after going ahead 2-0 in the 34th minute.

The Reds were exposed when it came to dealing with corners and crosses delivered into their penalty area, which is a little surprising considering the experience of Dutch central defender Bart Vriends.

Adelaide goalkeeper James Delianov also had another off-night, with last season’s departure of Socceroos gloveman Joe Gauci perhaps hurting the Reds more than they would like to admit.

The Wanderers are on the rise with Brandon Borello in strong form. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Wanderers on the rise

While it was a disappointing night for the Reds, the result was another step in the right direction for the Wanderers, who have now won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic seemed a little unlucky to be sent off but he wouldn’t have cared after his side’s fighting win.

Socceroo Brandon Borrello has been excellent this season, while Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson has come to life in a big way in the past month.

Midfielder Dylan Scicluna has also impressed, and the Wanderers will be sweating on his fitness after Stajcic said “he could be out for a long time” after suffering an injury in the second-half on Friday night.

Spanish star Juan Mata remains on the periphery, but Stajcic will argue that his team has found form in response to those calling for the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder to be elevated to the starting team.

Unconvincing Phoenix

The Phoenix might have returned to winning ways on Saturday, but the Newcastle Jets can consider themselves very unlucky not to have returned from Wellington with at least a share of the points.

Robbie Stanton’s men dominated for large periods, and with a little more poise in attack, would have scored more than one goal.

As it was, it took two great strikes from Kosta Barbarouses and Paulo Retre to down the visitors, and secure all three points for the Phoenix.

However, the Phoenix, who avoided a fourth successive defeat, have a long way to go to recapture the heights of last season, when they finished second on the ladder and fell a week short of playing in the grand final.

Wellington coach Giancarlo Italiano was rightly “disappointed” with his team’s performance for most of the match, particularly with its poor use of the ball.

“When you lose three on the trot, confidence is down, morale can be down, so it was about getting the three points,” Italiano said.

However, the Phoenix will need to improve significantly if they are to beat Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Jets boss Stanton said his players let themselves down in “big moments” and paid the price for being “sloppy” and “casual” early in the contest.

“We’ve matured a bit but there are areas of our game we need to get better at,” Stanton said.

Team of the week: (4-2-4) Matt Sutton (Western United); Hiroki Sakai (Auckand FC), Tomoki Imai (Western United), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Jordan Courtney-Perkins (Sydney FC); Dylan Scicluna (Western Sydney Wanderers), Jake Brimmer (Auckland FC); Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers), Joe Lolley (Sydney FC), Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix), Jed Drew (Macarthur FC). Coach: Steve Corica (Auckland FC).

Player of the week: Joe Lolley (Sydney FC)

Originally published as A-League: The three referees who should officiate big games after Zinedine Machach’s red