A-LEAGUE referees boss Ben Wilson has offered to address the Newcastle Jets and go over any concerns coach Gary van Egmond has regarding the club's accumulation of yellow and red cards.
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The gesture follows Newcastle's controversial 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday in which rookie referee Brenton Hayward sent off a player from each club and the visitors were issued seven yellows.
Roar playmaker Thomas Broich last night had his red card for alleged violent conduct overturned by the match review panel.
Van Egmond had no complaints about the dismissal of defender Josh Mitchell for two bookable offences but was frustrated at the disparity in the number of cards issued.
"Brisbane made 13 fouls, we made 12," van Egmond fumed after the game. "We received seven yellow cards . . . they didn't receive one."
The Jets coach was upset that Roar enforcer Erik Paartalu had escaped sanction after running 30 metres to confront Mitchell, yet Jets defender Connor Chapman was booked for his involvement.
Wilson reviewed the match yesterday but had not spoken to van Egmond.
He agreed with the review panel that Broich should not have been sent off but was satisfied that Hayward had been correct with the majority of the decisions.
"It was a difficult match and a lot of cautions were given," he said. "With the exception of the time-wasting one [given to Scott Neville], there was not too much else the referee issued to Newcastle he shouldn't have.
"He probably missed one for Paartalu he should have given. It would have been a fairer outcome if both players who did a similar thing were cautioned.
"In the confusion of everything that happened the referee missed Paartalu, which is not an excuse, but it is the reason."
Wilson, who replaced Mark Shield on the eve of the season, said there was no ratio of yellow cards to fouls or a requirement that referee give an equal number of cards.
He acknowledged the standard of officiating could always improve but was happy with the current level.
"There has been some isolated incidents which have been publicised with regards to referees not getting the decision right," he said.
"There is an offer there I made to football managers last week that I am more than happy to go and speak to any club and explain referee matters and go through any issues."
The seven yellows and one red against the Roar took the Jets tally to 33 and three. They have by far the worst disciplinary record in the league. Sydney FC are next with 29 yellow cards but are yet to have a player sent off.
"As to whether Newcastle has a specific problem compared to anybody else . . . I think they have had six or seven referees in their nine games. It is not like they have one referee who is singling them out," Wilson said.
"That is more for Gary to look at; whether there is a discipline issue with the club."
