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Monday, 15 March 2010

Australia News Olympic U-Turn On Danny Ban

REF slapping keeper Danny Vukovic has been granted a reprieve and allowed to play in the Olympics after a dramatic U-turn by the FFA's appeals committee on his original 15 month ban .

The independent panel upheld his ban - but gave him a break from it over the Olympics to allow him to go to Beijing 2008.

A statement from the FFA confirmed: "The effect of the Appeals Committee decision means that Vukovic will not be eligible to play in the Hyundai A-League competition again until 6 October 2008, but he is eligible for selection to the Australian Olympic team."

It added: "The independent Appeals Committee, arising from the red card (send off) offence of Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners) at the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final on 24 February 2008, handed down its decision today.

"The committee, comprised of John Sackar QC, Michael Christie SC and former professional player, Jeromy Harris, heard the appeal by Vukovic represented by Bob Ellicott QC on 10 April.

"The Appeals Committee decided that Vukovic be suspended from all games up to 24 June 2008 and from all games from 29 August – 5 October 2008 inclusive.

"The Appeals Committee also decided that Vukovic should not play in any games from 6 October 2008 – 25 January 2009 inclusive, with the latter penalty to be suspended subject to no further infringement in the period up to, and including 25 January 2009.

"The Appeals Committee also fined Vukovic $10,000 to be paid to the FFA.

"The Appeals Committee decision overturns the original suspension of the independent Match Review Panel in February which banned Vukovic for 15 months (of which six months was suspended), a sentence reduced to 12 months (with three months suspended) last month by the independent Disciplinary Committee.

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