Football
Ed Jackson 4y

VAR referee to miss A-League weekend

The officials at the centre of a controversial penalty decision in Wellington Phoenix's loss to Melbourne City will not be involved in A-League action this weekend.

Ben Abraham and Craig Zetter were both absent from the list of officials for round five matches released by the FFA on Thursday.

Abraham awarded a penalty to City in the 61st minute of the 3-2 win at AAMI Park last Sunday after ruling Louis Fenton had handled a cross by Denis Genreau.

Fenton wasn't fazed at the time, confident VAR official Zetter would overturn Abraham's decision but was then incredulous when the penalty award was upheld.

Fenton didn't hold back when asked for his take by Fox Sports after the game.

"100 per cent no pen because it doesn't even f**king hit my hand. It's f**ked," the New Zealand international said before storming off.

Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay was also unimpressed.

"I thought it came off his body first and, if it's hit his arm after that and in the new laws, they state that if it hits your body first then it hits your arm, it's accidental so it's play on," Talay said.

"But the decision was made and that changed the game."

The FFA has 12 referees on the panel for five matches, meaning officials are rotated throughout the season.

Despite the controversy, an FFA spokesman told AAP the pair's absence from this weekend's officiating lists was routine.

Zetter is unavailable due to work commitments, while Abraham is being rotated, the spokesman said.

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