PERTH Glory coach Ron Smith has launched a scathing attack on football’s governing body, calling for an overhaul of the rules before the game becomes “more brutal”.
Smith’s Glory staged a remarkable last-minute comeback to salvage a draw against Queensland Roar in Brisbane last night, with defender Jamie Coyne scoring three minutes into stoppage-time to secure a 3-3 scoreline at the end of a pulsating game.
But Smith, whose position remains in doubt after a winless A-League season, seemed more intent on discussing an 89th-minute challenge from Roar captain Craig Moore on Glory midfield player Leo Bertos.
Bertos was 30 metres from goal when he tapped the ball past his defensive opponent, only for Moore to bring him down with a strong body blow.
The incident earned Moore a yellow card from referee Ben Williams, but Smith believes his side deserved more after being deprived of a scoring opportunity while trailing 3-2.
"With that foul, we don’t care if (Moore) gets a yellow card, red card, green card, you name it," Smith said.
"We’ve been deprived a chance to score, and we should have a chance to be recompensed for that."
Smith said he was happy with fouls inside the box earning a free kick, but he called on the game’s world governing body, FIFA, to introduce a second type of penalty, in order to promote fair play, for fouls occurring outside the area.
"What I think should happen in the game, and I’m not the first one to suggest this … there should be a second kind of penalty," he said.
"If you get taken out 30 yards from goal, you should have the free shot, say from the edge of the 18 yard box, and you’ll stop (foul play) overnight.
"It’s whether the authorities actually want to do something to encourage fair play or do nothing, and I don’t think the authorities do anything near enough to encourage fair play."
There was nothing in the game preventing foul play at crucial periods of the game, Smith said.
"Foul play wins out every time, and that’s a fact," he said.
"If they don’t (change the rules) the game will just become more and more brutal."
Agence France-Presse
Source: foxsports.com.au
