Football Federation Australia should throw the book at Dean Bouzanis for the offensive slur he aimed at Besart Berisha in Saturday’s Melbourne derby.
There’s no need to repeat what Bouzanis said – Fox Sports’ cameras picked it up loud and clear – and Melbourne City reacted promptly to what was always going to be a major talking point.
The club apologised for Bouzanis’ actions in a statement released on Sunday morning and revealed they would make a formal apology to both Melbourne Victory and Berisha.
“Bouzanis admitted making the remarks out of ignorance; however, has since understood the seriousness of his comments.”
“Once informed of the gravity of his actions, Bouzanis committed to redressing the offence at the earliest opportunity,” read the statement.
That’s all well and good – but Bouzanis has got form.
And if he was genuinely ignorant of the meaning of his grubby outburst, why say it in the first place?
It’s a bit hard to believe the boy who cried wolf when Bouzanis has already attracted complaints from rival coaches John Aloisi and Paul Okon for his over-the-top antics on the pitch.
The least the Match Review Panel should do is hand Bouzanis a minimum of a five-game suspension, which not only robs City of their first-choice goalkeeper, but also opens the door for former Danish international Thomas Sorensen to reclaim the number one spot.
Bouzanis’ slur took the gloss off what was a breathtaking finale to the derby, with Tim Cahill’s red card – when he wasn’t even on the pitch – causing yet another headache for City.
They’re now without an incredible six players through suspension for next Saturday’s visit of Brisbane Roar, with Cahill joining skipper Bruno Fornaroli, Luke Brattan, Fernando Brandan, Osama Malik and Manny Muscat on the suspended list – and that’s before the MRP deals with Bouzanis!
Like it or not, City are rapidly developing a reputation as one of the most poorly behaved teams in the league, and Cahill’s running commentary with referees isn’t helping.
The derby itself didn’t explode into life until the hour mark when Bouzanis saved a penalty from Berisha, before the floodgates well and truly opened.
Neil Kilkenny should feel hard done by to have seen his opener ruled as an own goal by Alan Baro, before Berisha – who else? – equalised, and Victory scored their controversial winner through another City own goal.
City will cry about the manner of Victory’s winner until the cows come home, but Fox Sports analyst Mark Rudan was right when he pointed out that had Muscat simply held his ground and maintained his position, Berisha would have invariably been ruled offside.
At any rate, Victory’s fightback maintains their slim premiership hopes, not least because Sydney FC were held to a scoreless draw by Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
A draw was just about the right result in humid conditions in Brisbane, with both keepers making a string of important saves.
The Sky Blues will be the happier of the two sides to come away with a point, as their long unbeaten streak continues.
Elsewhere, Western Sydney Wanderers recorded just their fourth win of the season over Wellington Phoenix in front of a small crowd in New Plymouth, while Perth Glory recorded a gripping 3-2 win over the Newcastle Jets.
The merits of taking A-League games to regional centres will surely come under scrutiny once again following Central Coast’s 2-1 win over Adelaide United in oppressively hot conditions in Canberra, with Canberra United’s W-League semi-final against Melbourne City pushed back to an 8pm kick-off because of the heat.
The AFLW will eat the W-League alive because the FFA continues to treat women’s football as an afterthought, but at least the game’s governing can get one thing right.
They can make an example of Dean Bouzanis and suspend him for at least five matches.
There’s no place in our society for ethnic slurs – especially on a football pitch.
Aethelbert
Guest
Out of all of this I have to respect Bouzanis, at least he is honest about what he said, unlike Brendon Santalab.
tully101
Roar Guru
every single Melbourne city fan should be banned for singing "besarts a gypsy"
tully101
Roar Guru
thatll be a farce
tully101
Roar Guru
here here
Ian
Guest
Oh Lordy sonoflordy..........an alias if we've ever seen one. bananas anyone?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
The racist fan who abused Paul Ifill got a 2 year ban from all stadiums. Wouldn't think Bouzanis would get something this serious but something around a 5 game suspension I guess along with a decent enough fine.
Nemesis
Guest
Anon is that you back under a new name to avoid The Roar banning you? AFL does nothing about racial abuse. They actually giggle about it on The Footy Show. AFL player Damian Monkhorst racially abused Michael Long (indigenous player) and the punishment was mediation. No ban from playing.
Chris
Guest
Northerner has spoken!
Celtic334
Guest
Racism is no joke obviously but lets put the situation in perspective. The situation is you have a child, at school some kid comes upto his face gives him a big up yours, trys to intimidate him and tells him where to stick it. Your child in return retaliates by calling him a name. Your child gets called into the principals office and is there for suspended, the other child who incited the incident isn't even talked to and allowed to go. Is this fair behavior? This is my point on what we are prioritizing in the community these days. The right result is, the child who initiated the saga gets detention and a slap on the wrist, told next time he does it there will be consequences. Your child is called into the office and told that names will not solve anything if only it will offend and aggrivate the other party. He gets detention over a lunch break. Told to shake hands and both are asked to explain to each other while their actions are both not tolerated. Now obviously these guys are adults, therefore replace detention with a fine and a official sanction and all is well. Move forward.
Chris
Guest
See this is what I mean. Too much subjectivity coming into play. For me, as a player, I know that someone in the 6 yard box is a distraction (at the very least), regardless if he/she is moving. I know its the FIFA rules and Im not picking a fight, but something needs to change here.
MB
Guest
"City will cry about the manner of Victory’s winner until the cows come home, but Fox Sports analyst Mark Rudan was right when he pointed out that had Muscat simply held his ground and maintained his position, Berisha would have invariably been ruled offside." So, it's Muscat's fault that he tried to stop a player who had no idea was offside from getting a touch which would have resulted in a goal. How is that not interference in the play from Berisha and therefore an offside call? If Berisha isn't there Muscat doesn't slide in and Bouzanis probably calls for the ball and makes an easy save
Fadida
Guest
Exactly Pablo. Berisha was the aggressor in all of this, now he's supposedly he victim
Fadida
Guest
Tackling a player is legal, throwing the ball at him is not.
punter
Guest
We saw how well the AFL handled the Adam Goodes situation. Get back into your box.
SonOfLordy
Guest
A long, long ban is necessary. How would the AFL punish a player who abused to an Aboriginal player using a derogatory term for Aboriginals. It would be a season long ban, half a season at the very least. They need to throw the book at this guy. Why does it always come back to race and ethnicity in Australian soccer? And flares too!. Had a child's life put in danger by a flare on Saturday night. Child could have been disfigured for life from excruciating burns. The A-League just can't shake itself from the bad old days of the NSL. Time for the A-League to show us the ways of NSL is the past and the A-League represents all Australians.
Pablo
Guest
Didn't Berisha try to humiliate and intimidate the keeper prior to him mouthing off at him? But calling him a gypsy is worse somehow. Personallly if someone calls me a 'thick paddy', a common slur for an Irishman to hear, I really couldn't give two hoots. But if they get up in my face with aggression, that I feel is much worse. The old adage sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me, comes to mind. Blows my mind that a word is now worse than aggressive threatening behaviour .... Especially when the aggression led to the racial slur.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
MelbCro Interestingly, I said on another thread yesterday that in Southern Italy, especially in the Calabro-Sicilian dialect, people would call someone a "gypsy" (in Sicilian "zingaru") if they didn't dress to the standard expected, or if they were unkempt , or if they looked like a vagabond - and personally, I doubted it had racist overtones because the people using the term would barely know what Roma people are. Parents would call their own children a "zingaru" if they were letting their hair grow too long, or wearing torn jeans, etc: Ma ti nni nesci d'accusi? Mi nni pari comu nu zingaru! (you're going out like that? you look like a gypsy! - as in, you look like a vagabond or a homeless bum).
northerner
Guest
MelbCro - I know the cultural significance of using the word "gypsy" in southern, central and eastern Europe. And it ain't pretty. It is a generic term, but it is also a totally racist one. Don't even try to argue that equating "stupid," "ugly,"" dickhead" with one specific ethnic group isn't racist to the hilt. Just because it's common usage in the Balkans (and elsewhere) doesn't make it any less racist. Bouzakis knew he was throwing a racist insult at Berisha, and you know it too.
Barto
Guest
Racial vilification is illegal. Racial Discrimination Act makes Racial vilification unlawful in Australia. It is illegal to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" a person of a certain race, colour or national or ethnic origin.
Nemesis
Guest
"I wonder if Fuss thinks it’s acceptable to throw the ball at the referee……." One of the most ridiculous things I've read on a forum that's filled with ridiculous statements. The Laws of the Game do not treat refs the same as players. If you tried to tackle a ref, you'd get a red card - even if you win the ball first. That doesn't happen if you do the same to an opposition player.