Melbourne Victory striker Ney Fabiano has been hit with a nine-match ban after being found guilty of spitting at an opponent in last Friday’s A-League Round Four match against Adelaide United.
Do you think this is a fair punishment?
Fabiano was dismissed in the 29th minute of the match by referee Matthew Breeze after an altercation with Adelaide defender Robert Cornthwaite.
In a hearing lasting nearly four hours the three man committee comprising barrister John Marshall SC, former Young Socceroo and solicitor Danny Moulis, and former Socceroo Milan Blagojevic found that Fabiano had deliberately spat at Cornthwaite.
The nine-match suspension is second only in length in the A-League to the nine-month ban given to Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic for striking the hand of referee Mark Shield in last season’s grand final.
The A-League regulations allow for a minimum six match ban for spitting, including the mandatory match suspension of one week, up to a maximum of twenty-four months.
Breeze’s report stated that the spitting was intentional, a view supported by the committee after extensive viewing of the incident from multiple angles.
In reaching their decision the committee was also of the view that the evidence provided by the player in the hearing was inconsistent.
Fabiano, who was present at the hearing, stated his views on the incident and was also cross-examined with the assistance of a Portuguese interpreter via a telephone hook-up.
Melbourne Victory contended that Fabiano inadvertently projected spittle at Cornthwaite in the process of swearing at him.
Fabiano stated that he had only been dismissed once in his 12-year career which was for a double-yellow card, and that he had never been guilty of violent conduct on the field nor had disciplinary action been taken against him.
The hearing was the first to be opened to the media since the A-League commenced in 2005.
The suspension follows the five-match ban handed to Perth’s Dino Djulbic in round three, the defender found guilty of unsporting conduct towards a match official when he spat on the ground as a show of dissent towards referee Peter Green.
Brazilian Fabiano had been one of the major signings for the Victory in the off-season joining from Thai club Chonburi FC.
The journeyman 29-year-old has played for 14 clubs in his 12-year career across four countries.
He will not be eligible to play for the Victory until their round 14 match against Perth Glory on December 6.
Melbourne Victory spokesman Gary Cole declined to confirm whether the club would appeal the ban but stated they felt they’d received a fair hearing.
“I want to make it clear that Ney Fabiano has the full support of our club, coaching and playing staff,” Cole said.
“Our plea was that the incident didn’t involve a spitting action and wasn’t intentional.
“We are very disappointed with the outcome of this disciplinary hearing.”
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September 18th 2008 @ 9:53am
dasilva said | September 18th 2008 @ 9:53am | Report comment
The punishment is perfectly fair. I can’t believe I’m reading people going about that it was too harsh.
If it was intentional then 9 weeks was fair. It was much worst then Dino djulbic incidence who spat on the ground. If it was unintentional he still deserve a sentence due to negligence (although less then 9 weeks). You must have control over your action and if you spit on someone accidently then you should be punish for lack of self control. Its like injuring someone drink driving. It wasn’t intentional but you are still punish for lack of self control.
People say that the video is inconclusive but there is one thing people have missed. The testimony of breeze and cornthwaite. Breeze was adament that the spit was intentional. It does look suspicious that Fabiano was swearing and going off at Robbie and then suddenly he “accidently” spit at him. He is guilty by my books
Another person pointed out that Totti only got 3 weeks for spitting on a Danish player therefore this punishment is unfair. Who gives a stuff what happens in Europe. We have our own standards. In all honesty in Europe there are far too lenient on suspensions (who could forget Di canio pushing the referee on the floor and pretty much getting away with it) probably due to the high wages of a player. We do it our way and have our own standard. If people in Europe are lenient on players bringing the game to disrespute then that’s there problem. We don’t take that crap in australia.
September 18th 2008 @ 8:04pm
timthebizarre said | September 18th 2008 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
Let’s stop making excuses for this guy. What he did was completely unacceptable. Well done to the A League officiandos. After the ridiculous situation with Vukovic last year they are on the ball and making sure that the A League has high standards of player behaviour
September 18th 2008 @ 9:24pm
jimbo said | September 18th 2008 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
Spitting should be stamped out of the game and maybe the FFA are making a point of it to counter the negative publicity.
But FFA punishments are not consistent.
The NRL Warriors player Wade McKinnon who spat at the linesman got 3 weeks and tickets to a Brisbane nightclub with the Broncos.
September 19th 2008 @ 5:02pm
dasilva said | September 19th 2008 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
Jimbo
FFa doesn’t has to be consistent with NRL.
Like I said we have our own standard. If NRL wants to be lenient on spitting then that’s there problem.