Furious Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold says video assistance is needed for A-League referees, branding the standard of their officiating as "pathetic".
Arnold launched broadsides against the refereeing in the league in separate post-match interviews in the aftermath of his goal-shy team's 0-0 draw with the struggling Newcastle Jets in Wollongong on Saturday night.
He was upset at what appeared to be an incorrect offside decision which rubbed out a potential match-winning wonder goal by Sydney striker Marc Janko in the first half.
The Austrian international's brilliantly executed left-foot volley sparked memories of Tim Cahill's World Cup stunner against the Netherlands last year.
However, referee Lucien Laverdure disallowed the strike and Sydney's goalless run extended to four games and 374 minutes and their winless streak stretched to seven games, their worst sequence in four years.
Arnold admitted to being extremely frustrated after the game and his criticism of the officiating is probably likely to incur the wrath of A-League officials.
In an interview with Fox Sports, Arnold said "the referees honestly, they are pathetic and they are deciding every football game.
"How that one was offside, It was clear for everyone to see he's ruined goal of the year.
"I don't even have to look at the replay, it's a goal and goals change games.
"That's cost us three points, but they don't care, they don't get punished."
Arnold maintained the rage in his subsequent general media conference, albeit preceding his criticism with a dose of dark humour.
"I smashed him (the referee) on TV, so I may as well keep going here," Arnold said.
"They do it every week, they may as well just give the championship trophy to the referees, because they decide what's going on.
"You can talk all about the A-League and the standard and all this and that, but until they lift their standard...
"I know they're part-time, but every game I watch in the A-League this year there's some rotten decisions that cost points.
"The refs ruin games anyway, but tonight they've ruined goal of the year."
Asked for the solution, Arnold said: "Maybe (they should go) fulltime. or I think probably you do need video in Australia, because they are that bad."
Fox sports commentator and former Socceroos defender Ned Zelic agreed the refereeing this season was poor.
"They are not deciding every game but they have been poor," Zelic said.
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