Roar hoping Broich will escape ban

Brisbane Roar coach Rado Vidosic is confident star midfielder Thomas Broich will be available next week, after the German was controversially red-carded in Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Newcastle Jets.

Brisbane Roar coach Rado Vidosic is confident star midfielder Thomas Broich will be available next week, after the German was controversially red-carded in Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Newcastle Jets.

Despite a positive result for the struggling Roar, much of the talk post-match centred on the flare up just before half time which resulted in the dismissals of Broich and Jets defender Josh Mitchell.

As Mitchell played a pass out of defence and advanced forward, Broich appeared to do little more than hold his ground as the Jets man ran into him and went to ground. Mitchell – who had been booked minutes earlier after conceding the decisive penalty – then sprang to his feet and charged at Broich, pushing him over.

The German had some angry words for Mitchell as the two stood toe-to-toe, but showed no further physical aggression, before the Jets player was clattered into from behind by an angry Erik Paartalu.

Referee Brenton Hayward then showed Mitchell his second yellow, before stunning the home crowd by giving Broich a straight red for violent conduct. Boos rang out around Suncorp Stadium as Broich, who was Brisbane’s best in the first half, left the pitch looking bemused.

“There was nothing in it,” Vidosic said after the game. “He should not have been sent off.

“I think the referee even told a couple of our players he had made a mistake, so hopefully Thomas will be OK to play next week,” he said.

Vidosic did not call for the inexperienced Hayward to be relieved of his duties next week, rather that the Broich dismissal was a rare error for the referee.

“We’re all human and we all make mistakes, so I think referee admitted that he made mistake and I think he should be encouraged to referee the next game,” he said.

“I think that was probably the only mistake he made. I don’t think he had a bad game.”

The Hyundai A-League’s match review panel will meet on Monday to decide whether Broich will be available for Brisbane’s trip to Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.