Melbourne Victory have decided against appealing striker Archie Thompson’s two-match ban for using abusive language towards referee Matthew Breeze on the weekend.
The match review panel handed down the suspension on Monday night for the offence which saw the Melbourne marquee player sent off during his team’s surprise 1-0 loss to Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday night.
The league leader’s decision to accept the verdict means that Thompson will now miss crucial back-to-back matches against fellow top three teams Sydney FC and Adelaide United in the upcoming fortnight.
Thompson, who turns 30 on Thursday, regretted his actions.
“I realise I’ve let the club and my team-mates down and have apologised to the coach and the playing group,” Thompson said.
“My actions were out of character, but it doesn’t change the fact that I made an error.”
“I would like to apologise to Matthew Breeze, as well as the large contingent of Victory members and supporters and football fans in general.”
Thompson, like team-mate Ney Fabiano, will next be available for Melbourne’s Round 11 clash with Queensland.
