No upcoming games
Future matches are yet to be scheduled
No upcoming games
Future matches are yet to be scheduled

Please update your browser

Unfortunately you cannot view this website on the current version of your browser. Please either update your browser or use an alternative browser.

Jan 28, 2011   |  2:08AM AET

Muscat accepts 8-match ban

Muscat accepts 8-match ban

Melbourne Victory Football Club confirms it has accepted the 8-match ban handed down to Kevin Muscat by Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) Disciplinary Committee this evening.

Melbourne Victory Football Club confirms it has accepted the 8-match ban handed down to Kevin Muscat by Football Federation Australia-s (FFA) Disciplinary Committee this evening.

The 37 year-old received a straight red card for his challenge on Melbourne Heart player Adrian Zahra during the Melbourne Derby at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, January 22. As a result, Kevin is now ineligible for the remainder of the Hyundai A-League season, including any finals the club may qualify for.

Melbourne Victory Football Club is satisfied that Kevin received a fair hearing, with both club and player taking the opportunity to re-iterate their remorse over the incident which subsequently ended Adrian Zahra-s debut A-League season.

“I was prepared to accept whatever ban came my way. While I was relieved to hear Adrian-s injuries weren-t career-threatening, I-m still bitterly disappointed by my actions and I wish him a speedy recovery.” Muscat said.

The 8-match sanction has ended Kevin-s domestic season, and he will now assess his options ahead of Melbourne Victory-s AFC Champions League campaign, for which he remains eligible.

“I haven-t really given any thought to my future. My focus over recent days has been on Adrian Zahra and I was pleased to be able to personally apologise to him on Monday – which thankfully he accepted.”

“My actions warranted a lengthy suspension and that-s what has eventuated, so now I have to sit down with a variety of people and work out where we go from here.” he added.

Melbourne Victory Football Operations Manager, Gary Cole accepted of the verdict “We acknowledge that Kevin-s actions were unacceptable and deserved a lengthy suspension. We-re extremely supportive of Kevin as our captain, but we certainly don-t condone his actions in this instance.”

“We never gave any consideration whatsoever to appealing his sanction. Kevin knows he made a poor decision and now he-s going to have to accept the consequences.”

“Both Kevin-s and the club-s major concern has been the welfare of Adrian Zahra.” Cole added.