VAR Controversy Mars Auckland FC’s Semifinal Exit in A-League Thriller

Auckland FC’s fairy-tale debut A-League season came to a bitter end on Saturday night, as a controversial refereeing decision saw a potentially game-changing goal disallowed during their semifinal second leg against Melbourne Victory at Go Media Stadium.

With Auckland trailing 2-0 on the night — 2-1 on aggregate — Logan Rogerson appeared to have clawed his side back into the match with a header in the 69th minute, following a crafty ball hooked across goal by teammate Guillermo May.

The stadium erupted. Fans roared. Players celebrated. But the joy was short-lived.

Assistant referee Kearney Robinson raised his flag, ruling that May’s ball had curled out of play before returning to the field. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) took a brief look but stuck with the on-field call, prompting outrage and confusion.

Football Australia later addressed the situation, stating:

“The footage from the VAR was inconclusive, so in these circumstances we need to go with the on-field decision from the referee.”

The decision had seismic repercussions. Auckland FC struggled to find an equalizer, and the final whistle signaled not just the end of the game but the end of their remarkable inaugural season.

Fallout and Frustration

Head coach Steve Corica didn’t mince words in the post-match press conference.

“I think we all saw the replay — the ball’s in play. The referee made a bad call, the linesman too, and VAR didn’t step in. That decision might’ve cost us a place in the final.”

Corica also revealed that officials did not stay post-match to allow for discussion, breaking usual protocol.

“That’s going to haunt me for quite a while,” he said. “We didn’t even get our standard 15 minutes with them after the game. They shot off pretty quickly.”

Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker echoed the coach’s frustration.

“I’ve never seen a referee run out of a stadium that fast. We’ve received video footage that clearly shows the ball didn’t go out. That just adds to the frustration.”

On social media, fans were equally livid.

“Clearly was a goal. No argument — just substandard Australian reffing,” one user wrote on X.

Another said: “Surely to rule out a goal, you actually need clear evidence. Or at least some evidence.”

Despite the heartbreak, Auckland FC’s debut season remains one for the history books. But the taste left by the semifinal will linger — a what-could-have-been moment sealed not by gameplay, but by officiating.