Adelaide coach Carl Veart has said referees need to protect players better after teenage star Nestory Irankunda was sent off with seconds remaining in his side's 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.
Booked earlier in the contest, Irankunda was subjected to repeated physical challenges from Chris Ikonomidis in the final moments of Saturday's contest, which referee Alex King didn't whistle as an infraction, instead booking the winger for dissent after he protested.
