A-League derby coaches round on Beath

The Melbourne derby managers were on different sides of Gui Finkler's 'ghost goal' on Saturday night but both took issue with A-League referee Chris Beath after their 2-2 draw.

Kevin Muscat and John van 't Schip couldn't restrain themselves from criticising the official, with the Victory boss having perhaps the strongest grievance.

The denial of Finkler's free kick, which ricocheted off the cross bar and over the goal-line before spinning away, left Muscat apoplectic.

"Regardless of whether it was in or not, I'm staggered to comprehend at that moment where he's looking," he said.

"It was clear and obvious to see. It was easy to see.

"It was an error.

"Normally when you score more goals than the opposition you win, that wasn't the case tonight."

A sheepish John van 't Schip said City were lucky.

"It was a goal ... in football it happens," he said.

Beath's performances have already been under the gun this season, with Sydney FC requesting the official not be scheduled for their fixtures.

The referee of 119 A-League matches was elevated to be one of three full-time officials under new FFA investment in the off-season.

The replay screens at AAMI Park that showed the Brazilian's shot as crossing the line - which Beath could not use in making his decision - brought the stadium to a frenzy.

But Muscat and van 't Schip's criticism went further, with Beath seen as too whistle-happy and eager to brandish cards.

"The referee was very quick in giving them ... cheap and quick yellow cards," van 't Schip said.

Muscat said there were "untold" yellow cards.

"There were three big decisions tonight and in my opinion they were all wrong," he said.

"In the end, Matthieu (Delpierre) gets booked for winning a header. Staggering."

"It's just become a little bit disillusioning."

Of eight booked players, Anthony Caceres was the only one to receive a second yellow, leaving City to play out the match with 10 men.

"The first one was actually a free kick for him and he still got a yellow card. I thought that was very, very soft," van 't Schip said.

There was at least sympathy from the Dutchman on the toughness of officials assessing Finkler's free kick in real time.

"It's (up to) the eye of the ref and the eye of the linesman and that's always a hard one."