A-League Round 4

[pels]

Perth cheat their way to a 2-2 draw, Robbie Fowler scored a penalty after a nice dive by his team mate.

The guy got a 2week suspension which IMO is a great decision.
Hopefully this stops a lot of other players diving.

[pels]

Up you reds!!
That's a really great result and Flores' goal will go close to goal of the season.

Syd v ccm has been a bit rubbish. The commentators said the penalty for ccm was contentious. I don't see how, I thought it was clear as day.

Flores goal was fantastic, He is a very good player and could have an outstanding season

Thats CCM guy got a 2 week suspension as well

[mickey]

Perth cheat their way to a 2-2 draw, Robbie Fowler scored a penalty after a nice dive by his team mate.

The guy got a 2week suspension which IMO is a great decision.
Hopefully this stops a lot of other players diving.

Waits 4 weeks for a clearance, saves the game and gets 2 more weeks off....
dare say the CCM will appeal their ban though

[devilsadvocate]

Pels - you're spot on and I totally agree with the decision to ban those 2. Bold move, but excellent stuff from the A-League to try to stamp that stuff out of the game in this country.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1020591/Divers-punished-by-A-League

In the first bans of their type, Perth Glory striker Michael Baird and Central Coast midfielder Patricio Perez were both given two-match suspensions after winning game-changing penalties with alleged dives in their respective matches at the weekend.

The A-League match review panel also expunged Sydney FC goalkeeper Liam Reddy's red card after he was sent off following his challenge on Argentine Perez, freeing him to play this weekend.

Both Perez and Baird were banned under the A-League's simulation rules introduced two seasons ago.

They are the first players to be suspended under the law.

Baird hit the deck under minimal, if any, contact from Melbourne Heart substitute Kliment Taseski to win the Glory a penalty and secure a 2-2 draw with Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park on Sunday to keep his side top of the table.

Perez fell under Reddy's challenge, winning and converting a controversial spot-kick which gifted Central Coast Mariners an equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium the previous night.

The decisions to award penalties in both cases sparked widespread criticism from players and commentators alike, especially as both had major effects on the results of their matches.

Match review panel members Barry Such, former referee Simon Micallef and ex-Socceroos defender Alan Davidson acted quickly in applying the ground-breaking bans.

Neither club has any right of appeal against the rulings under A-League regulations.

The Mariners expressed their disappointment at the match review panel's decision in a statement on Monday night.

"The player is adamant that there was some sort of contact by Reddy on his trailing left leg, and we are 100 per cent behind him," Mariners chief executive officer John McKay said.

"The club was provided footage of the incident by Football Federation Australia and after reviewing it with our football staff we are at a complete loss as to how the match review panel could come to a conclusion that there was definitely no contact.

"It's disappointing under these circumstances that we're not able to state our case, and what is even more disappointing is that Patricio has basically been branded a professional cheat without any recourse to profess his innocence."

Perez will be forced to sit out Friday's home match against Melbourne Victory and the following week's fixture against Melbourne Heart.

Glory is furious over Baird's ban - coming in his first appearance after a protracted dispute in winning his international clearance, which delayed his season start.

"Perth Glory is shocked and disappointed with the FFA independent Match review panels (MRP) decision to suspend Michael Baird for two matches," a club statement read.


"The club is also saddened that there is no natural justice and avenue of appeal. Perth Glory will be seeking to explore all options."

Baird will miss matches against Wellington Phoenix and Gold Coast United.