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Craig HillFarce: Danny Vukovic suspension reduced
April 25th 2008 03:30
A goalkeeper in the Australian A-league has had a nine-month suspension for manhandling a referee reduced to six months AND split into two to allow him to play at the Beijing Olympics in August.
Now that's an appeal!
Danny Vukovic is a goalkeeper with 2007/2008 A-league grand finalists Central Coast Mariners and it was in that grand final match against Newcastle Jets when the young goalie lost his cool in the dying minutes and literally slapped the hand of referee Mark Shields.
What a let-off for Danny boy
His frustration stemmed from the referee's decision not to award his side a last gasp penalty and was subsequently sent off with a straight red-card. His offence was serious despite causing the referee little arm - it was nothing more than a slap on the hand at best - but the fact that he manhandled the ref did not go amiss with the FFA which gave him a 15-month ban of which six months of it suspended on a probationary basis and only activated if the player re-offends within a year of returning, meaning Vukovic would miss nine months of A-League action and the chance of representing Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (read more about this incident here)
However, an independent committee ruled on Wednesday that his suspension be further reduced meaning the player is free to resume playing in the A-League competition again on October 6 but more importantly, he is now eligible for selection to the Australian Olympic team.
If football wishes to avoid becoming the laughing stock - it actually already is with this decision - of the football codes in Australia then it needs some credibility. It's incredible that a player can he suspended until June - then be allowed to play in the Olympics - and then go back to being suspended until October!
Vukovic was fined $10,000 for his strike but nevertheless, people will say the chance of representing Australia at the Olympic games is priceless.
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