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Wellington Phoenix A-League coach Ricki Herbert has been hit with a three-match ban for abusing a referee, but Melbourne Victory skipper Kevin Muscat must wait until Wednesday to find out his fate for pushing a rival team official.
Herbert’s run-in with referee Peter O’Leary in the frenetic finish to his side’s 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in Christchurch on Sunday means banishment to the stands for the Phoenix’s next three games.
Herbert was sent off as he argued with O’Leary about positioning of a free-kick late in the match, just before his defender Ben Sigmund netted a stoppage-time winner.
The Phoenix have until Tuesday to decide whether to appeal Herbert’s heavy penalty from the competition’s match review panel.
He would have to sit in the stands for this Saturday’s match against Gold Coast and games to follow against Newcastle and North Queensland.
But Football Federation Australia has not yet ruled on Muscat’s push to the stomach of Brisbane Roar goalkeeping coach Fernando Vaz Alvez in a fiery aftermath to the 3-3 draw last Friday night.
Television footage clearly showed the incident between the pair, with Vaz Alvez on the field as players milled around after the match.
The FFA confirmed it had sent Melbourne Victory a “please explain” letter over the issue, and the club and Muscat have until Wednesday lunchtime to argue their side of the story.
A decision on any punishment for Muscat would be made soon after, the FFA said.
Meanwhile, Adelaide United will have skipper Travis Dodd for their next match against North Queensland Fury on Friday night after his red card from Sunday’s Phoenix match was thrown out.
Dodd was harshly sent off for kicking Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia in what clearly looked an accident.
Panel members Barry Such, Simon Micallef and Alan Davidson found the decision to be an “obvious error” and expunged his red card.
It was the first time Dodd had been sent off in more than 100 A-League matches.
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