Melbourne City striker Harry Novillo’s two match ban has been upheld by an independent disciplinary committee, ruling the Frenchman out of this Friday’s semi final against Adelaide United.
City had earlier accepted the mandatory one week punishment handed to Novillo. The sanction was applied retrospectively after footage showed the striker kicking out during a half time melee against the Reds in round 27.
After being given a yellow card initially for his part in the fracas, the independent Match Review Panel (MRP) found Novillo guilty of committing “assault on a player” retrospectively. The incident in question saw him kick out at Dylan McGowan and Marcelo Carrusca in one action, which the MRP deemed to run outside the bounds of acceptable behaviour.
The independent disciplinary committee has ruled @novillo_harry 's two match sanction has been upheld. More to come. pic.twitter.com/9MLhnRKp8E
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) April 19, 2016
The decision is sure to anger City fans, who only last week saw cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory have Besart Berisha’s ban reduced after an incident with Wellington Phoenix defender Andrew Durante.
Photographic stills purportedly showing Durante making contact with Berisha’s hip and throat satisfied the MRP that the striker was provoked while receiving attention for a previous head knock in a clash with Ben Sigmund. The decision has since angered the Phoenix, who issued a ‘please explain’ statement to the FFA questioning the process that reduced the Albanian’s ban.
Novillo has been in fine form in the second half of the season, getting his goal tally to a respectable 10, while forming a devastating understanding with strike-partner Bruno Fornaroli.
The decision to uphold the two match ban means he can still feature this season, but only if City defeat Adelaide on Friday night to earn a spot in the grand final. Their opponents, if City are successful, will be either Brisbane Roar or Western Sydney Wanderers.
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