The Football Federation Australia (FFA) independent Disciplinary & Ethics Committee comprising John Marshall SC (Chair), Anthony Lo Surdo SC and Robert Wheatley (the Committee) convened to consider an incident referred to it, which arose in or around the 76th minute of Brisbane Roar FC’s Round 8 Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Match against Sydney FC on Saturday, 25 November 2017.
The incident involved Avram Papadopoulos (the Player) of Brisbane Roar FC.
The matter was referred to the Committee by the independent Match Review Panel (MRP).
The MRP had jurisdiction to consider the incident as the Player was issued with a direct red card in the match.
The MRP, having reviewed the incident at a hearing on Monday, 27 November 2017, determined that on the basis of the evidence reviewed the Player had committed the offence of “Spitting at a player” (Offence).
The MRP issued a Disciplinary Notice to the Player and referred the incident to the Committee for hearing as to whether the Offence had been committed, and if so, what sanction should be imposed.
The Committee has reserved their determination.
As Papadopoulos was issued with a direct red card, Papadopoulos must serve a match suspension of at least one match and therefore he is ineligible to play in Brisbane Roar FC’s Hyundai A-League Round 9 match against the Western Sydney Wanderers FC on Saturday, 2 December 2017.
