Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has weighed into the A-League referee debate once more, imploring Football Federation Australia (FFA) to consistently install goal-line referees.
Arnold believes implementing these officials, not just mere video, would raise the bar in terms of officiating in the league with an extra set of eyes to watch over the field in wake of recent incidents.
“My opinion … is they (FFA) have to put in goal-line referees immediately,” Arnold said.
“They did it in the FFA Cup, it worked. The European Champions League, they do it.
“It’s hard for the referees. I’ve seen incidents over the last two or three weeks, that if you have goal-line referees to help the referees, a lot of those decisions would have been changed.
“I watched games last night. The Mariners situation (referring to Roy O’Donovan’s head-butt) … if you had another set of eyes to help the referee, because at this moment you can’t have video, they would have seen that head-butt.
“He would have got sent off, different game. Unfortunately, the reason I’m speaking out, is because it costs coaches jobs. Tony Popovic, last night … would ha have been happy if … they (the Wanderers) had have lost?”
Arnold says that this solution is growing in importance and urgency with the continuing growth in pace of the A-League.
“The A-League is quick, it’s end-to-end. The referees have to be super-fit to try and keep up. And when they can’t keep up, they’re making decisions not from 10 or 15 metres away, they’re making decisions from 30 or 40 metres away because they can’t keep up.
“And if you have goal-line referees, they’re there, they can see everything.
Arnold says Ben Williams’ decision to stop play and deny Western Sydney Wanderer Federico Piovaccari a potentially match-winning goal in Friday’s match against Adelaide United is a perfect example of why goal-line officials are needed.
“They (Piovaccari and Dylan McGowan) were both pulling each other, and he (Piovaccari) was stronger than McGowan, it’s a goal.
“Penalties (referring to Friday’s game) … he (extra official) could be standing there and say ‘Topor-Stanley on Marrone, 100% penalty’ … same with Bridge.
“Find a solution. Would that not help?”
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