Muscat unloads on refs

KEVIN Muscat says players “are confused and don’t know where they stand” with referees as he launched a scathing critique on the consistency of A-League officiating.

But the Melbourne Victory coach says his players do not have a discipline problem after copping five yellow cards in a first half that saw Mitch Austin sent off and former captain Mark Milligan flirt with the same result in a controversial 1-1 draw with Western Sydney on Monday night.

And league chiefs have another video refereeing saga to deal with after a more than two-minute delay preceded Oriol Riera’s missed spot kick just before halftime that would have sent the Wanderers 2-0 up, with caretaker coach Hayden Foxe labelling the lag time “ridiculous”.

Austin’s third-minute yel- low card was for a tackle from behind on Brendan Hamill, while the second 21 minutes later was for sticking his foot out to block a quickly taken free kick.

Asked for his thoughts on Austin’s red card, Muscat went on a diatribe about refereeing consistency — even though he said Peter Green officiated “to the letter of the law”.

Muscat said nitpicking on where throw ins were taken was rife on Monday, while Leroy George’s yellow for time wasting was the first he had seen this season.

But he said free kicks were continually taken while the ball was still rolling and that goalkeepers were being given “discretion” on how long they hold on to the ball for.

“I just want the rules to be the same for everyone every week,” Muscat said.

“I’m not defending Mitch, because after the booking you run the risk there if you stick your leg out. “If he doesn’t send (Austin) off there (it would be said) ‘I’ve used my discretion’, if he does (it’s said) ‘they’re the rules’.

“So, if they’re the rules, just apply them every time.

“The players don’t know where they stand because of the difference in refereeing from one week to another.

“It’s just my opinion on a range of matters. Are we playing by the rules, or just occasionally?”

Milligan crunched Hamill in the 37th minute and was given a yellow, but also swore at Green as he received his card, which often is a booking as well.

His studs-up challenge on Jumpei Kusukami in first half injury time was deemed to be a foul, but luckily for him did not warrant — in Green’s eyes — another yellow.

But Muscat said: “I didn’t think he was in danger of getting a second yellow, no.”