The standard of refereeing in the A-League Men has come under fire after Macarthur FC captain Valère Germain sensationally quit the club, citing poor officiating as a key factor in his decision. The former France youth international felt targeted by opponents without adequate protection from the referees, with his chairman Gino Marra admitting many clubs and fans likely share those frustrations.
Moss Mounts Staunch Defense of A-League Refs
Amidst the furore, Football Australia’s head of referees Jon Moss has come out swinging in defense of his officials. In a media sit-down, the former Premier League referee pointed to stats showing a higher threshold for VAR interventions and a willingness to let the game flow as evidence the refs were meeting pre-season commitments.
We have constant feedback and the feedback right across the board, from all the clubs, has been that they’ve been more than happy with the way that we’re refereeing.
– Jon Moss, Head of Referees, Football Australia
Clampdown on Cheap Fouls, Protecting Skill
Moss emphasized the officials were working to stamp out players falling over and cheap free kicks, without penalizing every bit of contact. The goal, he said, was to let the A-League breathe while still protecting the league’s most skilful players from targeting by opponents or as a team tactic.
Strong Ref-Club Relationships Reduce Rancor
Painting a picture of strong communication channels between referees and A-League clubs, Moss claimed outrage over decisions had been rare this campaign. Formal and informal mechanisms exist for clubs to seek clarification on rulings, but Moss estimated less than 5% of such communication this season stemmed from genuine anger.
Yellow, Red Cards Slashed Under Lighter Touch
Statistics appear to support Moss’s case of a more lenient approach paying dividends. Yellow cards have decreased by 21% in the A-League Men this season, while red cards are down a whopping 47%. A similar dip in cautions has occurred in the women’s competition.
Near-Perfect VAR Verdict Despite Hands-Off Policy
Of the 972 VAR reviews this season, Moss claimed an incredible 99.27% were adjudged correct according to the parameters laid out to clubs pre-season. The sky-high accuracy rate is all the more impressive considering the edict to reduce VAR interventions and maintain the game’s flow and rhythm.
Referee Roster Revamp to Lift Standards Further
Not content to rest on their laurels, Football Australia is embarking on a restructure of its refereeing department under Moss’s guidance. Next season will see a reduction in the pool of A-League referees, with lower-performing officials shifted to the new national second tier and NPL competitions.
I think we have a lot of really good officials in Australia. I think we have officials with a lot of potential. Can we get better? Undoubtedly. That’s why I’m here and that’s why we’ve got all these coaches on board.
– Jon Moss
Moss also flagged the inclusion of more independent voices in the referee review process, to counter any perception of the department “marking our own homework.” With over 50 international games officiated by Australians and two local referees in contention for the World Cup, Moss believes the future is bright.
The referees and their boss have made an impassioned case for the defence, but with a bona fide star like Germain driven away, the jury remains out. As the A-League enters its final months, all eyes will be on the men and women in the middle to keep the spotlight where it belongs – on the scintillating football.
