Central Coast goalkeeper Danny Vukovic had his Olympic dream shattered tonight when a Football Federation Australia disciplinary committee made only a minimal reduction to his ban for striking a referee on appeal.

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After a marathon seven-hour hearing FFA decided to retain Vukovic’s nine month suspension but chose to reduce the probationary period from six months to three.

The original ban did not extend beyond the A-League but Mariners executive chairman Lyall Gorman said it was now just a matter of due course that FFA would pass this latest verdict on to FIFA, who would then make the suspension global.

Vukovic was shown a red card in the February 24 grand final loss to Newcastle after hitting referee Mark Shield on the arm when the Mariners had a late penalty appeal turned down.

The 22-year-old was later found guilty of a violent conduct charge and banned for 15 months, with six suspended on a probationary basis.

The custodian was an Olyroos regular and considered a certainty to play for Australia in the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

Vukovic had been part of the Olyroos’ qualifying campaign for two and a half years, playing in 14 matches.

He will not likely get another chance to play in the Olympics because the rules specify only three players are allowed to be over 23 years of age.

There is another appeal process the Mariners can take through FFA but Gorman said he would have to take Vukovic’s best interests into account before deciding whether or not to proceed.

“Obviously this suspension will in effect preclude Danny from selection the Olympic team.
“Obviously Danny’s very disappointed as I’m sure you’d appreciate and he’s not prepared – and we’ve obviously counselled him not to front the media. He’s quite shattered at the moment.”
The new Olyroos goalkeeper looks destined to be Perth Glory’s Tando Velaphi.

The 20-year-old made his under-23 debut for Australia in Monday’s (AEDT) match against Mexico, which Australia won 2-1 in front of a massive crowd of more than 47,000 in San Francisco.

Velaphi, who is of Japanese and Zimbabwean heritage, had been Vukovic’s understudy throughout the qualifying campaign.

Vukovic’s Mariners team-mate Sasho Petrovski was also expected to front the committee tonight for allegedly making an abusive gesture against a match official but his hearing was delayed to a later date.

Vukovic presented his evidence for the first two hours before a number of witnesses were called and character references made.

NSW education minister John Della Bosca was one of the more high profile to give a character reference.

Della Bosca has had an ongoing relationship with the club and his wife Belinda Neal is a Mariners director.

© AAP 2012

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