Sage: ban Gillett 'for his own safety'

Gutted ... but were Perth Glory robbed as well? Source: David Crosling / AAP

Perth owner Tony Sage says he is still distraught over his team's controversial loss to Melbourne Victory on Friday night and will ask Football Federation Australia to ban Jarred Gillett from refereeing future Glory games at home "for his own safety".

Friday April 12

Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar

Parramatta Stadium, 7.30pm

Sunday April 14

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory

Bluetongue Stadium, 5pm  

Winners to play in the grand final

His comments came as Glory coach Alistair Edwards finally opened up over his side's elimination from the finals series following the 2-1 defeat at Etihad Stadium.

Edwards, who remained calm in the post-match media conference on Friday night, told The Australian yesterday he needed to make his feelings known now that he has had time to reflect.

Bosnich: it wasn't penalty and Steve Pantelidis shouldn't have been sent-off. Read on for our review of the first weekend of the finals.

"I don't want to come across as a grump but I can fully understand the rage that Perth Glory fans are feeling because it is happening far too often. The crucial decisions are going against the club," Edwards said. "The fans are coming up to me and asking 'why is it Perth Glory? Why isn't it happening to Western Sydney, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory?'

"All I want as manager, and I know the fans want the same, is to ask 'what is going to be done? Will there be a review? Will people admit their mistakes? How are we going to fix it?'

"At the moment I don't have the answers, so I don't know what to say to the fans, who are rightly feeling aggrieved. We are all accountable."

Not for the first time, Gillett was embroiled in drama involving Glory after awarding a highly contentious penalty that enabled Victory to equalise with a minute remaining in the elimination final. He also sent off defender Steve Pantelidis in the process, reducing Glory to 10 men for the 30 minutes of extra time that followed.

Archie Thompson bobbed up early in the first period of extra time to snatch what proved to be the winning goal.

Gillett was the centre of drama in last season's grand final, sending off Perth defender Dean Heffernan then awarding Brisbane Roar's Besart Berisha a penalty 30 seconds later. The subsequent goal gave Roar a last-minute 2-1 win over the West Australians.

It took some time for the outspoken Sage to get over that loss and he admitted he was almost feeling as much pain this time. 

Sage has written to FFA expressing some strong views and while he stopped short of asking that Gillett never officiate at any of his club's games, he indicated he has asked the head body "not to appointment Gillett to any Perth games at home for safety reasons". 

"Whether it is right or wrong, there's a perception now with our fan base and at the club regarding Jarred Gillett," the millionaire mining magnate said. "So, if we as a club don't do anything about it then we are not supporting our club.

"He should not have done our game in the first place. He could have done Adelaide v Brisbane game.

"Why Perth? Why inflame the situation any further?

"If you read social media comments coming out of Perth, if I was Jarred Gillett I wouldn't want to come here anyway." 

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