Only managed to tune into the Gold Coast vs Adelaide United match tonight towards the end and saw the challenge between Curtis and Reid. This then resulted in Reid receiving a red card 5 minutes after the challenge occurred and after Curtis had been stretchered off in a neck brace.
I have said it before and I will say it again...Australian refereeing is absolutely abysmal! The lack of professionalism in Australian football is a joke.
Both players went in just as hard and what happened to Curtis was an accident. Reid was essentially putting his hand out to protect himself and it was unlucky that his elbow caught Curtis on the head resulting in concussion. Replays clearly show Curtis going in first with his studs-up! So if Reid is sent off for a studs-up challenge as the referee indicated on-field, then Curtis should also have been red-carded!
Apparently the fourth official confirmed with club officials off-field that the red card was for excessive force. What the?! Both players went into the challenge just as hard!
If Reid's red card is not rescinded by the FFA, then I see no future for the A-League. There is still too much politics involved in clubs, too much unprofessionalism at all levels, and amateur refereeing.
