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Football Federation Australia has resolutely stood by its judicial process despite threats of legal action from Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer.
Palmer had threatened challenging the legality of the FFA’s A-League system in the Supreme Court after midfielder Steve Pantelidis was suspended for two matches.
United have appealed Pantelidis’ ban meted out by the FFA’s independent match review panel for violent conduct against North Queensland’s Robbie Middleby on Saturday.
The matter was heard before an independent disciplinary committee in Sydney on Wednesday before being adjourned until next Thursday because of confusion as to whether United could only contest the length of the suspension or the incident itself.
Palmer, who is currently suing Queensland premier Anna Bligh for defamation, remains upset at the A-League’s judicial process as he believed the disciplinary committee had a “vested interest” to maintain the two-match ban.
“You can’t have a fair hearing with this group of people if they’ve already imposed the penalty on you without hearing from you at all,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“You’re already coming to the hearing with a pre-determination that you’re guilty.
“The process of the procedure is very corrupt, and we’re going to get a court order which will say that.”
Mystery surrounds whether Palmer would following through on his threat – particularly after the confusion on Wednesday night – and an FFA spokeswoman said the national body believed it had been withdrawn.
Palmer was unavailable for comment on Wednesday but Gold Coast United chief executive Clive Mensink was earlier unaware he had backed down.
Nevertheless, the FFA – which has stuck with the same judicial process since the A-League’s inception in 2005 – said it was unfazed by Palmer’s criticism.
“We’re ignoring, we’re not taking any notice of it,” the spokeswoman said. “We’re happy with our process.
“The process is outlined to all A-League CEOs and coaches and therefore players prior to each season so everyone understands what the laws of the game are.”
She stressed the match review panel, disciplinary committee and appeals committee were all independent.
Meantime, Coast coach Miron Bleiberg is resisting New Zealand requests for star striker Shane Smeltz to miss their round five match against Sydney FC on September 5, four days before the All Whites’ clash with Jordan in Amman.
With captain Jason Culina set to miss the Skilled Park match to play for the Socceroos against South Korea, Bleiberg said Smeltz would only be released after they play Sydney.
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