Perth Glory’s Ella Mastrantonio and Wellington Phoenix’s Emma Rolston are set to serve respective multi-game suspensions after an incident which led to the dismissal of both players in Sunday afternoon’s Liberty A-League clash between the two sides.
Both Mastrantonio and Rolston were sent off for in the first half after engaging in a physical altercation at Macedonia Park; Football Australia’s Independent Match Review Panel (MRP) assessed the incident on Monday evening, electing to hand Mastrantonio a three-match ban and Rolston a two-match ban.
A statement from Football Australia read explained that: “the MRP determined that both Mastrantonio and Rolston had committed the offence of “Assault on a Player (e.g. violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) or against any other person other than a Match Official, including attempted Assault”.
“The minimum sanction for the offence is two (2) matches, being the Mandatory Match Suspension plus one (1) additional match. The MRP proposed:
- in relation to Mastrantonio, a sanction of three (3) matches, being the minimum sanction for the offence plus one (1) additional match; and
- in relation to Rolston, a sanction of two (2) matches, being the minimum sanction for the offence.
“Under the Regulations both Mastrantonio and Rolston, may refer the matter to the independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for hearing and determination of the sole question of either:
- what additional sanction should be imposed above the minimum sanction (inclusive of the Mandatory Match Suspension which must always be served), applying the Range at the Table of Offences; or
- whether Exceptional Circumstances apply and therefore a sanction outside the Range at the Table of Offences should be imposed, provided always that the Mandatory Match Suspension must be served.
“Mastrantonio and Rolston have until 2:00pm AEDT on Tuesday, 17 January 2023 to advise whether either or both of them wish to appeal the relevant match sanction proposed by the MRP.”
