Sydney FC defender Tiago Calvano has been handed an eight-game ban by Football Federation Australia for making contact with a referee.
Sydney FC defender Tiago Calvano has been handed an eight-game ban by Football Federation Australia for making contact with a referee.
The Brazilian grabbed match official Peter Green during the Sky Blues’ home game against the Melbourne Victory in Round 5, knocking a red card out of his hand as he attempted to dismiss Marc Warren.
Tiago, 32, was later banned for two games for striking Archie Thompson in the same match, which Sydney won 3-2.
However, he will sit out a further eight matches for a ‘gesture’ consisting of ‘making deliberate contact with the referee’ which was deemed ‘at the very least offensive and insulting to his authority’, according to an FFA disciplinary committee.
An additional four-match ban will be imposed if Tiago receives a straight red card at any stage during the remainder of the regular A-League season or finals campaign.
Comparisons have been made between the incident involving Tiago and the nine-month suspension, reduced from 12, imposed on Perth Glory’s Danny Vukovic in 2008, with the crucial difference being that the Sydney FC man, as opposed to the goalkeeper, was not deemed to have struck a referee.
While disappointed to be without their central defender for a large chunk of the season, Sky Blues CEO Tony Pignata said the club accept the ruling.
“In hindsight Tiago admits he made a wrong decision and accepts his punishment. However we still believe what he did was in no way malicious,” Pignata said in a statement on Thursday.
“He is a passionate man by his nature and plays the game in that way.”
Tiago will next be available for the Sky Blues in their round 16 Australia Day clash, ironically against the Victory at Etihad Stadium.
