Confirmed: O’Donovan’s appeal hearing for Grand Final red card

Newcastle Jets striker Roy O’Donovan will attempt to have his huge ban from last year’s red card in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final reduced when an appeal hearing is held next Tuesday, July 10.

O’Donovan was slapped with a 10-match ban after he was sent off in the dying minutes of the decider – which the Jets lost 1-0 – for his high kick to the face of Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.

It was the Irishman’s second red card of the campaign following his dismissal in the Round 22 win over Sydney FC for an incident with Jordy Buijs.

The 10-game suspension takes in both Hyundai A-League and FFA Cup matches.

A statement released by the FFA on Monday said: “The independent Appeal Committee hearing relates to an appeal by O’Donovan from the determination of the independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee regarding an incident involving O’Donovan which occurred in or around the 93rd minute of the Hyundai A-League 2018 Grand Final between Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 5 May 2018.

The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee on 18 May 2018 determined that O’Donovan must serve a suspension of ten (10) Hyundai A-League matches and/or FFA Cup matches (whichever comes first), which includes the Mandatory Match Suspension.”

The hearing will take place at FFA headquarters, commencing at 5.30pm (AEST).