Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has lashed out at the Hyundai A-League Match Review Panel’s decision to uphold Ben Sigmund’s red card.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has lashed out at the Hyundai A-League Match Review Panel’s decision to uphold Ben Sigmund’s red card.
The defender was given his marching orders late in the second half of Wellington’s match against Adelaide United on Saturday after being adjudged to have brought down Reds striker Jeronimo Neumann when he was through on goal, despite replays suggesting the Argentinean dived.
Herbert was stunned by the decision not to overturn the red card and placed the blame squarely on referee Jarred Gillett.
Sigmund will now miss this weekend’s clash with Melbourne Victory.
“The referee in the Chelsea-Manchester United game this morning (in the Premier League) dealt with Fernando Torres, who went down in the same manner as Neumann, by showing him a red card,” Herbert said.
“Unfortunately the referee in our game with Adelaide did not deal with the situation competently and we are paying the penalty rather than the player who was guilty of simulation.
“This referee has been in the same situation in a grand final and did not deal with it competently there either.
“It is very disappointing for both Ben and the club that he will miss the game against Melbourne Victory, and also wrong that the game is being ruined by players who dive and do not get punished for it.”
The panel also decided that Jeronimo could not be the subject of a post-match review for simulation.
He is now free to play for the Reds against the Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
