Central Coast striker Roy O’Donovan received the second biggest A-League ban of all time after being handed an eight-week suspension for his New Year’s eve headbutt on Wellington defender Manny Muscat.
The Irishman fronted Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) independent disciplinary committee on Wednesday, pleading guilty but with mitigating circumstances to a charge of violent off-the-ball conduct during the Mariners’ 3-1 win in Gosford.
The committee accepted O’Donovan had had a momentary lapse of judgment in retaliation to Muscat elbowing him in the eye moments earlier, and also took into account his previous good record.
However they also cited the serious nature of his action in its decision to issue the most severe ban recommended by the FFA’s disciplinary council, who suggested a suspension of between six and eight weeks.
They also suggested, that while different in nature, it was worthy of the same level of punishment as Kevin Muscat’s brutal tackle on Adrian Zahra in 2011, which also earned eight weeks.
Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp said the club would look to appeal the hefty suspension, which he said was over the top.
“We are extremely disappointed at the decision,” Mielekamp said.
“The disparity in sanctions issued for this match highlights the flaws in the system.
“The media circus around the incident has had a high impact on the result and we will look at our various avenues for appeal.”
Only Danny Vukovic has received a bigger suspension in the A-League, the former Mariners custodian copping a nine-month ban for striking a referee in 2008.
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