Al Ahli's Olaroiu wants referees to learn from mistakes

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  • Frustrated: Cosmin Olaroiu.

    Al Ahli boss Cosmin Olaroiu has insisted “it is in everyone’s interest” for referees to be forced to learn from their mistakes.

    Olaroiu, 45, has suffered controversial calls in his last two matches. A soft penalty was awarded against defensive midfielder Kwon Kyung-Won for pulling Brett Holman as Al Nasr fought back to draw 2-2 last Thursday, with the worst to follow in a devastating 2-1 midweek AFC Champions League loss to their namesakes Al Ahli Jeddah.

    In that game, Majed Hassan was given a second yellow card for a foul clearly committed by Everton Ribeiro and sent off in a case of mistaken identity.

    This saw the Red Knights go from one-goal up through the Brazilian and heading for the knockout stages, to their continental destiny being taken out of their hands after losing 2-1.

    Olaroiu was fined Dh25,000 after he rallied against Yaqoub Qaseem Al Hammadi’s controversial call from the Blue Wave fixture and he continued to rage in the build-up to Sunday’s meeting with bottom-placed Ittihad Kalba.

    He said: “Always, I will talk about my point of view and the truth under any circumstances. If you [ journalists] mistype something, you will admit it and bear the punishment – rulers are always right and we are wrong.

    “We all do our best and then someone comes and loses you everything. When humans make mistakes, they must be recognised – it is in everyone’s interest to improve.”

    The Red Knights’ miserable defence of their AGL title is officially over after Al Ain were crowned champions last Friday, with a late push at the Asian qualification spots highly unlikely because of an eight-point gap with only nine left.

    They will again be without injured skipper Luis Jimenez, but Ribeiro’s breakthrough display on Tuesday should soften the blow.

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