Coolen wants video back-up for refs

Rini Coolen talks to his players at a Adelaide United training session. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: AdelaideNow

Referee Chris Beath will referee tomorrow afternoon's knockout final - despite incurring the wrath of Coolen when he wrongfully sent Paul Reid off during the Adelaide United and Gold Coast United clash at Skilled Park 23 days ago.

Reid's red card was rescinded by the A-League 24 hours later after Adelaide was forced to fight with 10 men in steamy midweek conditions.

Coolen said Football Federation Australia should consider using video technology next season in a bid to help match officials eliminate errors from their games.

After FFA chief executive Ben Buckley endorsed trialling goal-line technology if the game's lawmakers IFAB embrace the system at its annual meeting in Wales next week, Coolen believes the A-League should use instant replay video.

"The speed of the game is so quick and there are moments where the referee can be helped with video," Coolen said.

"There's so much money in football and so many decisions that have to be made which could have a lot of influence in the future of the club.

"So a little bit more help outside the pitch should be fantastic for referees."

Beath missed one weekend round of A-League action before he was summoned to end his home-and-away season arbitrating the Central Coast and Newcastle Jets clash after the Reid error.

After he was named as the fourth official in last weekend's 1-0 elimination final win to Adelaide over Wellington, the newly FIFA-badged referee has won tomorrow's pressure-cooker final.

"I don't see any problem because anybody can make mistakes," Coolen said.

"The last time he made a mistake was against the situation for Reidy for the red card.

"Directly after that he saw himself that there was a mistake and that can happen.

"They gave him some rest, that's what I know and now he's fresh and focused.

"He should get his chance back and take the game."

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg declined to comment after club officials said the flamboyant boss didn't view Beath's appointment as an issue.

However Beath caught the Coast off-guard in the clubs' second A-League meeting in 2009.

Kristian Rees was harshly sent off in 33rd minute of the 1-1 draw at Hindmarsh before Bas van den Brink was served a four-match ban.

The Dutchman had committed the offence of "unsporting conduct toward a match official" after he touched Beath's hand in protest over Rees' send-off. He was cited by the match review panel.

Coolen said he was hoping Beath was invisible during the clash which he expects to reach boiling point with the seasons of both clubs on the line.

"I'm happy to give referees chances, the same as players get chances," he said.

"What I think is, the best referee, you don't notice that he's on the pitch.

"Of course mistakes could be there as long as it's not a big influence in the game."