Soccer: Critical Reddy finds forgiveness

Goalkeeper Liam Reddy doesn’t blame Sydney’s Chris Payne (pictured) for claiming his controversial second goal which helped sink the Phoenix last night. Photo / Getty Images

Liam Reddy led the protests when Chris Payne's left arm tightened Sydney FC's grip on the A-League's preliminary soccer final last night.

But the goalkeeper then adopted a more conciliatory stance as the Wellington Phoenix started reflecting on a memorable season back at the team hotel.

Payne's 30th minute goal contributed to Sydney's 4-2 victory at the Sydney Football Stadium when the referee and linesmen failed to realise it was his arm and not head that propelled the ball past Reddy.

Although Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert queried Payne's professionalism in claiming the goal, Reddy defended the striker.

"I've got nothing against him for not putting his hand up," he said.

"If you talk to any Phoenix player in the same situation I'm sure he'd be doing exactly the same thing.

"You can't point the finger at the boy that scored the goal, for the referee and the two linesmen not to see it, he's done well."

Unlike Herbert and captain Andrew Durante, Reddy was not entirely critical of referee Peter Green and his assistants.

"Everyone who's seen it knows it's a hand ball. You just have to hope the officials see it, they didn't this time. They have a hard job and they can't see everything. That's life," he said.

Durante was non-committal when asked if Payne should have owned up.

"It's a tough one. What's he going to do - turn around and say don't give the goal?

"I don't think you can point the finger at the players, they do everything they can to try and score but the referee and linesmen need to be good enough to pick up on it."

Durante was not sold on the value of referring dubious goals to a fourth official to view on television replay.

"I don't know about technology in football. I think we want to keep it as basic as possible."

However, he said refereeing standards in the A-League had to improve.

"They're not fulltime referees and I think the A-League has to look at that and make sure these guys are getting the right training and education to make these calls.

"I don't know what they're doing during the week. They do normal jobs and they have to come here on a big occasion and referee."

- NZPA