Another day, another poor refereeing decision at the World Cup—at least that's the point of view coming from the Australia camp.
In their 1-1- tie with Ghana on Saturday, the Socceroos were forced to play with 10 men after Harry Kewell was ejected in the first half. Kewell was standing on the goal line when Jonathan Mensah fired a shot on-target from just inside the box. The ball caromed off Kewell's arm and away from goal.
The laws of the game call for an ejection if a defending player "denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball."
Ghana equalized with resulting penalty kick, but not until Italian referee Roberto Rosetti sent off Kewell—unfairly, said the former Liverpool forward.
"Everyone that's seen it is saying 'OK, fair enough, it's a penalty'. But was it deliberate? Of course not, I've never been that way inclined," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Kewell's head coach Pim Verbeek agreed with his veteran forward.
"For a penalty it had to be a deliberate handball," Verbeek said. "I couldn't see it, but we can't change it.
"What is he supposed to do, cut his arm off?"
Despite being down to 10 men, Australia dug deep to earn the tie and their first point of the tournament. It was the second time in as many matches they had seen a player ejected. Everton's Tim Cahill saw red last week after committing two clumsy challenges in a 4-0 thrashing by Germany.
Kewell had been recalled to the starting XI as a replacement for Cahill. He hadn't suited up for Australia since earning five minutes back in January.
There had been reports of squabbling within the Australia camp following the heavy loss in the group opener, but both Kewell and Verbeek spoke fondly of "team spirit" following the hard-eared tie with Ghana.
"I am very pleased with my players and their spirit today," Verbeek said. "They have spoken about the Australian spirit, and it was good that they were doing what they are talking [about]."
Australia next play Serbia, who they will have to defeat by at least three goals—and get help elsewhere—if they want a chance at progressing to the knockout rounds.
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