A highly contentious red card to Adelaide United striker Hiroshi Ibusuki has marred an otherwise thrilling A-League Men clash with Sydney FC on Sunday, again raising questions over officiating standards in Australia and the purpose and merit of the Video Assistant Referee.
Ibusuki was sent off by referee Daniel Elder just before half-time in what Sydney legend Alex Brosque described as “one of the worst red card decisions I’ve ever seen” – and it brought the Sky Blues back into the game, clawing back from a goal down to briefly lead 2-1 against the 10-man Reds at Allianz Stadium.
Adelaide’s Hiroshi Ibusuki is given a red card on Sunday.Credit:Getty
Adelaide ultimately salvaged a 2-2 draw, with fringe Socceroo Craig Goodwin’s 58th-minute cross headed in by former Sydney academy product Harry van der Saag – but Reds coach Carl Veart and his players were still seething at full-time, as they had been comfortably the better team until Ibusuki’s straight red irrevocably changed the complexion of the contest.
Ibusuki was in possession and trying to corral a ball that was bouncing away from him when he lunged to reach it in the 40th minute. The Japanese striker got his foot to it comfortably and passed it on, but then clipped Anthony Caceres in the leg with his studs on the way through.
Elder blew for a foul and reached into his pocket, producing a red card, which shocked Ibusuki, his teammates and, based on social media reactions, everyone at home.
A lengthy delay ensued as Kurt Ams, the VAR, assessed the incident – but he eventually gave it the all clear without even summoning Elder to the review screen on the sidelines for a second look. This was, it appeared, precisely the sort of refereeing ‘howler’ that the VAR was ostensibly invented to address.
Patrick Wood celebrates a goal for Sydney FC.Credit:Getty
Veart was caught by pitch-side microphones calling it a “disgraceful” decision, while at half-time, Sydney assistant coach Paul Reid conceded it was a “very harsh” call on Adelaide. “I’d be very angry if it was our team,” he told Network 10.
After weathering an early storm from the Sky Blues, the visitors had been well on top by that point and seemingly were cruising to victory after Ryan Kitto took full advantage of some lackadaisical Sydney defending, dribbling through three players to open the scoring with a 13th-minute peach.
But Sydney, who lost veteran striker Adam Le Fondre to a hamstring injury after just 19 minutes, wasted little time capitalising on their numerical advantage on the other side of the break. Former Nottingham Forest star Joe Lolley squared things up after a slick one-two with Caceres just three minutes into the second half – then five minutes later, Rhyan Grant’s header across goal set up an easy finish into an empty net for young striker Patrick Wood, who had come on as Le Fondre’s replacement.
Harry Van der Saag celebrates his goal for Adelaide United.Credit:Getty
Adelaide, however, fired straight back when Van der Saag met Goodwin’s wrong-footed cross with a header past Socceroos hopeful Andrew Redmayne. The 22-year-old, who was discarded by Sydney at the end of last season, chose not to celebrate in front of The Cove at the new stadium’s northern end.
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