Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon dismayed by A-League referees

The Central Coast coach was left exasperated after what he believed was a handball not called by referee Jonathan Barreiro in his side’s thrilling 1-1 derby draw with Newcastle on Sunday.

The Mariners held on for a share of the spoils despite playing the final 25 minutes with ten men following Liam Rose’s second yellow for a handball. Asked whether he had issue with the decision, Okon deflected to a perceived late no-call.

“There’s no point me having an opinion because it doesn’t count,” he said. “I asked the fourth official in the 85th minute - there was a handball from the Jets down in the corner and I asked him if it was a handball and he told me to shut up.”

Okon’s comments come after all four A-League games this weekend have been marred by crucial calls made by the whistleblowers.

On Friday, Western Sydney were robbed of a goal after striker Kerem Bulut was incorrectly ruled offside in their 1-1 draw with Melbourne City. On the same day, Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor was banished to the stands after allegedly touching the fourth official during the game in his team’s 3-1 win over Perth.

And on Saturday, Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant finished their own 1-1 draw with Brisbane despite picking up what some believed to be his second yellow card of the match.

“The referee decides. If you look at every A-League game this weekend, the referees made the decisions that have impacted all four games. It happened again this afternoon,” Okon said.

Okon, who also criticised the four-day turnaround they have until Thursday’s clash with Perth, said there was no point bringing up any issues with A-League refereeing director Ben Wilson.

“We asked for an explanation a couple of weeks ago on the four handballs in the penalty box. You don’t want to hear the answer to those explanations,” Okon said.

“I’d prefer to go for a beer - me and you - and have a chat about something else, than go over the explanation as to why the referee and the linesman, who were ten metres away, didn’t see the handball against the Wanderers.”

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon dismayed by A-League referees